File:Japan and the Japanese illustrated (1874) (14778725081).jpg

Identifier: japanjapaneseill00humb (find matches)
Title: Japan and the Japanese illustrated
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Humbert, Aimé, 1819-1900 Bates, Henry Walter, 1825-1892 Hoey, Frances Cashel, 1830-1908
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Publisher: London : R. Bentley & son
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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men, for whom the sword is at once an emblem of Ijraveryand a title to nobility. When the son of a Samoiuai is too little to carry armsat his belt, he is seen walking, with a koskei, or even an elder sister, followinghim respectfully, and holding in her right hand, by the middle of the scabbard, asword suitable to the height of the diminutive personage. In another year or twofencing will become the principal occupation of lii.s life. The Taikoun selected a numljer of his young yakounines, and sent them toNagasaki, to learn the use of fire-arms, under the tuition of the Dutch otKcers.They were not very well received when they returned to the capital, and werequartered in the barracks for the purpose of instructing the new Japanese infantry.Ilieir former comrades shouted Treason! and threw themselves on them with armsin their hands. There were victims on Ijoth sides. Nevertheless the decline of thesword is inevitable. Notwithstanding the traditional prestige with which the privileged
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192 LIFE IN JAPAN. caste still endeavour to surround it, notwithstanding the contempt in which it affectsto hold the military innovations of the Government, that democratic arm themusket has been introduced into Japan, and with it an incalculable social revolutionhas become a fact which the representatives of the feudal rerjime resent bitterly butvainly. The conduct of their chiefs has precipitated the catastrophe. Conspiracies inthe palace and j^olitical assassinations multiply themselves at Yeddo with frightfulrapidity. It is averred that not only several ministers of state, but two Taikouns,have successively died violent deaths since the opening up of Japan. The same fatehas befallen the Gotaiio, or Regent Ikammon-no-Kami, the governor of the youngsovereign, who died in 186G. His palace is situated on a hill, in the southern portionof the Sakourada Cjuarter, in front of the wide ditches and the high walls formingthe exterior enclosure of the citadel. It overlooks, on the east and

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