Robert Grant Watson

“ Yezo is spoken of as being a Japanese possession “out of their own empire.” It was invaded and conquered by Yoritomo, the first secular monarch (p. 64) . Yezo, says Kaempfer, is so thoroughly full of woods and forests, that it produces nothing of use to the Japanese besides pelts and furs and the famous fish karasaki, which is esteemed a great delicacy, The Japanese, he says, describe the inhabitants of Yezo as “being a strong but savage people, wearing long hair and beards, well-skilled in the management of bows and arrows, as also in fishing, the greatest part living almost solely on fish. ”

“ The animal in question is so considerate that it takes care never to trample on any plant and never to injure any insect or worm. Its conception requires a particular constellation in the heavens, and on earth the birth of a Sefin or man of an incomparable understanding and remarkable love for mankind. ”

“ Having given the above theory as to the beginning of the Japanese race, according to his opinion, Dr. Kaempfer proceeds to give the theory (or, as he calls, the fabulous opinion) of the Japanese themselves upon the same subject, an opinion which many will think scarcely more fabulous than that propounded by Dr. Kaempfer. (p. 96.) “They pretend, that they arose within the compass of their own Empire, though not out of the earth. They esteem themselves no less than offsprings of their very Deities.” ”

“ The Japanese, according to Dr. Kaempfer, must, it seems, have travelled from Babylon by way of Persia and the shores of the Caspian Sea, whence they ascended the Oxus to its source. It was then no difficult matter for them to penetrate to China, discovering in their route the lake Argüm, continuing their journey along the river of the same name and then descending the Amoor, whence they found their way to the Corea and—being now accustomed to navigation—across to Japan. ”

“ They have not inherited the title of Mikotto, which is given only to the divine and half-divine beings of the first and second succession, but that of Mikado, (which is a diminutive of the same words) as also the titles, Dai, Oo, Kwo, and Tai. They are likewise termed Tensin, that is Sons of Heaven. The Princes of the Imperial house are looked upon, says Kaempfer, as Popes by birth. A Mikado of the time when he wrote and of former times would, he says, think it prejudicial to his dignity to touch the ground with his feet. He must be carried on men’s shoulders. ”

“ The emperor can disgrace or exile even the greatest princes, or can deprive them of their lives and dominions, according to his pleasure. Of the Daimios, the princes of Satsuma and Kanga, respectively, arc said to be the most powerful in the empire.
The lords of smaller districts, called Siomio, such as those of Goto and several others, are only permitted to reside for six months of each year in their hereditary dominions. The other six months they must pass at the Imperial Court, where their wives and families are dedetained all the year round as hostages. ”

“ There is a curious belief attached to this fly, namely that all other night flies fall in love with it—a fatal step on their part, since in proof of their devotion they must fetch it fire, in doing which they singe their wings. ”

“ The language of Yezo is said to resemble that of the Corea.
In the following chapter (the fifth) we have the names and subdivisions of the several provinces of Japan, and notes respecting its revenue and government.
Of the provinces above referred to five are designated as the five Provinces of the Imperial revenue, being so called, because their revenue is particularly appropriated for the support and maintenance of the Imperial Court. It amounts to 48 man and 1,200 kokf (koku) of rice (a man contains 10,000 kokf [1] and a kokf 3,000 bags) . ”

“ Here begins the long line of Mikados, or, as Kaempfer styles the monarchs of Japan, “Ecclesiastical Hereditary Emperors,” and which dates from the year B. C. 660, being the 17th year of the reign of the Chinese Emperor Kaiwo. From that time till the year of Christ 1693 one hundred and fourteen Emperors of the same family have successively sat on the Throne of Japan. They value themselves extremely upon being the eldest branch of the family of Ten Sio Dai Sin, the sacred founder of the Japanese nation. ”

“ Some have a broad band of black crape or silk; others have a sort of lap before the eyes. The women’s dress at the court of the Dairi is likewise different from the costume of the secular women. But chiefly the Dairi’s twelve wives are dressed in sumptuous gowns interwoven with flowers of gold and silver, and so large and wide that it is difficult for the ladies to walk in them. ”

“ The land known to Europeans under that word has for its natives several names—the most common Nipon, sometimes pronounced Nifon—the foundation of the Sun, from Ni, Fire (in a more sublime sense, the Sun,) and pon ground or foundation. Other names are (1) Tenka (Subcelestial Empire) , (2) Fi no Motto (Root of the Sun) , (3) Awadsissima (a terrestrial scum island (p. 59) to which term a fable is attached) , (4) Dsinkokf or Cami no Kuni (the country of the gods) , (5) Akitsima, (6) Tontsio (the true morning) , (7) Sio (all i. e. all the Japanese islands) , Jamotto and several others. ”