Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 238

1850.

Notice of Japan in the Hái-kwɔh Tú Chí.

209

The generalissimo has only an occasional audience of him. In the contests that have occurred on the change of a dynasty, the struggle has never been for the hierarchy, but for the post of generalissimo. It is related in the Japanese histories, that since the foundation of the state to the present time, the former has continued in the same family; that once upon a time, when a generalissimo usurped the monarchy, the hills and seas yielded not their produce, the five species of grain came not up, the order of nature was disturbed but that on his returning to his post as minister, everything reverted to its ancient course. Since that time no one has had the evil ambi-

tion to aspire to the throne.

The families of the ministry inherit their offices and salaries in per- petuity, and as under the Hán dynasty in China, the officers are styled* Tsʻz-shí Tsien-shih. Their incomes are large enough to keep them from corruption, and it is therefore seldom that they break the laws; thus for instance, they give the kiái kwán (officers of the streets) annually elected, who are the same as our hiáng páu (head-boroughs), 50 kin a year.† They have all much leisure, and but little business to transact. Persons conversant with literature and arts are great people, are treated with extreme courtesy, and exempted from scutage. The habits of the people are particularly cleanly; the streets are constantly scrubbed and washed; the husband and wife do not eat off the same dish; and the servants throw away the leavings of their superiors.

The wealthy walk and sit upon cotton rugs, the poor upon grass mats, and the number of persons in a house is estimated by that of the carpets and floor-cloths in it.||

The collar worn by both men and women is broad, the sleeves full, and the dress so long as to brush the ground; these are figured with flowered patterns, or dyed in various colors. For trowsers, they use a roll of silk wrapped around their legs; and their feet are clad in short socks and shoes down at the heel. The men stick dag- gers in their girdles, cut their beards, and shave (or pluck) the crown

* In the first part of the 100th chapter of the Pei Wan Yun-fú, under the word shik, a stone, a quotation is given from a work treating of the Hán, as follows : "Wu-tí (6th of the Western Hán) appointed Taz'-shí to the charge of certain divi- sions of the empire: Ch'ing-tí changed this title to Muh (a shepherd), his rank (i.e. the salary attached to it) being 200 shih, viz. of grain.”

↑ Kingold; there is no means of ascertaining what sum or value is meant. ↑ Do not use the same broth spoon.

This expression is explained to be equivalent to our counting heads, the Chinese, mouths; &c.

VOL. XIX. NO. IV.

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