moat every action of life. The Emperors, hoth spiritual and secular, are
juBt as much enthralled hy them as the humblest man in the Kingdom. In
times of usurpation or political trouble they may, in some few instances, have
been set at naught, hut these are exceptional cases.
There are two prominent features in the Japanese system of government
; the one elemental, the other practical; and the two serving as the
bases of almost everything else in their polity. The first is feudalism, or
something very similar to i t ; and the second, exhibited in the praotical administration
of the government, is a system of checks and balances, founded
on an all-pervading secret espionage, ramifying through all classes of society,
from the highest to the lowest.
To explain this we must briefly advert to the several grades of society.
We have already spoken of the two Emperors. The Mikado is supreme in
rank and nominally recognized as such: but he has not a particle of political
power; is not allowed to have troops, and is literally, from birth to death,
shut up at Miako, in his little principality of Kioto; with the revenues of
which and the rich presents sent him by the Ziogoon, he must be content.
Even in his own principality he is governed for, as an independent prince,
by some grandee of his court, so that never lived there sovereign with less
of sovereign attributes allowed him. But for the tenacity with which the
Japanese cling to their ancient usages and laws, the Mikados would, doubtless,
have long since ceased to form a part of the cumbrous and complicated
machinery of government. Formerly it belonged to them to name or appoint
the Ziogoon; they may, indeed, still nominally have this power; but
it is without any real value, as the office of Ziogoon has for a long time been
hereditary.
But politically insignificant as the Mikado is, he is venerated with a
respect little, if at all, inferior to that rendered to the gods themselves.
Living in mysterious, though, for the most part, indolent seclusion, he is
venerated because he is inaccessible; and is, in truth, a prisoner who must
find, if he find at all, solace for his confinement in the golden chains and
ornamental prison-house of his captivity. No wonder that the abdication of
a Mikado is common in Japanese history. As to the Ziogoon, he commands
the revenues of the country, has at his disposal an army, and is anything
but a prisoner. Once in seven years he makes a visit, surrounded with
royal pomp, to the court of his brother sovereign, whom he takes care to
keep, at all times, under the surveillance of unsuspected secret spies. He
sends, too, in the intervals between his visits, embassies with rich presents
to the shadow king of the holy court, and receives in turn what he probably
deems a valueless bundle of blessings and prayers.
The hereditary classes in society are said to be eight in number; and,
except under very peculiar circumstances, no one can leave, through life, the
class in which he was born without a forfeiture of respectability.
Glass I. These are the hereditary vassal princes of the Empire.
Glass II. These are hereditary nobility, below the rank of princes.
They hold their lands as fiefs, subject to knight service or the rendition of
military service to some one of the hereditary princes. I f they belong to
one of the imperial cities, their military service is due directly to the Ziogoon
himself. The number of armed vassals required of them is regulated by the
extent of their respective domains. These hereditary nobles have generally
sub-vassals on their lands, who are bound to furnish their several quotas of
fighting men. Out of this class, governors of provinces, generals, and officers
of State are selected.
Glass I I I . This includes all the priests of the Kingdom—seemingly,
those of the ancient religion of Japan, Si/ntoo, as well as of Buddhism.
Glass IV . This is composed of the vassal soldiers, furnished by the nobility
of Glass II.
These four classes are the higher orders of Japanese society, and enjoy
certain privileges of dress. They carry two swords, and wear a species of
loose petticoat trowsers, which none, of lower rank dare to put on.
Glass V. These constitute the higher portion of the middle classes, such
as medical men, government clerks, and other professional men and employés.
Glass VI. Merchants and shopkeepers, who rank low in Japan, no matter
what may be their wealth. Any one of the classes above this would be
disgraced for ever should he engage in any trade or traffic. The richest men
in the Empire belong to this class ; and yet they are not permitted to expend
their money in a luxurious or ostentatious style of living. Sumptuary
laws impose restraints which they dare not violate. They are not allowed to
wear even the single sword, unless they purchase the privilege, by becoming
the menial followers of some great lord, at the price of a considerable sum of
money.
Glass VII. This is composed of retail dealers, little shopkeepers, pedlars,
mechanios, and artisans of all descriptions, save one, to be mentioned
presently. Painters and other artists belong to this class.
Glass V III. This consists of sailors, fishermen, peasants, and agricultural
and day laborers of all kinds. The peasants seem to be a Species of
serfs, attached to the soil, like the ancient villein of feudal times, and belong
to the land-owner. Sometimes the land is hired, and worked “ on shares,”
the agriculturist paying the proprietor a certain proportion of the crops.
The exception alluded to among mechanics, in Glass VII, is one which
is supposed to have originated in one of the superstitions of the Si/ntoo religion,
which tabooed all who had defiled themselves by coming in contact
with a dead body. Whether this be the origin of the exception, we know
not; but the fact is well established, that the tanners, curriers, leather
dressers, and, in short, every one in any way connected with the making or
2