L a n g u a g e .
G o v e r n m e n t .
S e c u l a r *
the Mofaical laws, and in the lift that they had adopted the rite
o f .the' P.ecbabites f
Japan has its peculiar language, different from all the jifiatic,
and probably the primitive one, brought over by the colonifts-
who originally peopled the dflands, ami came dire¿11 y from the:
banks of the Euphrates, bn the difperfion o f mankind after the
confufion o f languages, The Japanefe have an opinion that
the primoeval emigrants fettled in the province of IJje; numbers-
therefore make a pilgrimage annually to the antient fpot,.the
place where their anceffors dwelt, and as fuch honor it with peculiar
a£ts o f devotion. At Ifje are two temples * within that
•which they -name the True Temple, nothing is to be feen but a-
looking glafe, and bits o f white paper, emblems o f truth and purity.
They probably brought with them a pure Monotheifm,.
which was afterwards converted into Polytheifm, by their intermixing
with the feveral nations, which fubfequentlty contributed
to the population o f Japan, becaule it is reafonably believed, that
empire received a vaft increafe o f inhabitants by the numerous
fhipwrecks on its ftormy coafts, and Mkewife by migrations from
the neighboring China and Korea.. Whether the vaft reverence
which the Japanefe pay to their parents was copied from the
Cbinefe, or whether it might not have been introduced by the
primaeval colonifts,. as a part o f the firft great code o f laws, the
fifth commandment, I will not pretend to determine.
Japan is governed by two emperors ; one called the Cubo^ ors
fecular monarch, who rules with abfolute power; all the princes-
arid great lords o f the empire pay him the molt fervile obedience..
* Kasrnpfcr, L tab. Jy, lb .
Formerly
Formerly the whole was divided into fmall independent ftates,
the rulers were ftiled kings and princes, many o f which retain
the names, and govern abfolute enough ; but entirely under the
diredtion o f the emperor.
T h e antient title o f the monarch was Dairo ; he was alfo
fovereign pontiff, and like the pope the fupreme head o f the
church. In that charaiter his perfon was held fo facred, that
little ihort o f divine worlhip Was paid to him ; for a long period
he governed by means o f a prime minifter, who was called
the Cubo, a dignity ufually beftowed on one o f his younger foris ;
the father, like other eaftem monarchs, devoting his whole' time
to indolence and fenfuality. At length a Cubo arofe, who dethroned
the Dairo, or rather ufurped his more important office,
that o f fecular emperor ; he permitted him to retain that, o f pontiff.
The Cubo thus ftripped him o f all fort o f power except eccle-
fiaftical, but preferves the farce o f paying him ali external refpedl,
as much as i f he had enjoyed the antient plenitude o f authority;
he renders him an imaginary homage, and pretends tp adì only
as his deputy, and to hold the empire from him.
T h e Dairo was permitted to refide in the palace, in the old imperial
city o f Miaco, and to keep up the antient ftate, but that i?
now done with difficulty, as the Cubos have fucceffively leffeu&J
the revenues. Still he reigns fupreme over the church. The
people pay him the utmoft veneration, and the Cubo lnmfeSf is
obliged to marry one o f his daughters, in cafe he has any that
are marriageable. The firft Cubo, who ufurped the empires retired
to Jedo, which is the other-great ,capital o f the ifland. -
T h e laws of Japan, as is told o f thofe o f Draco, may he faid
L I 2 \ to
E c c l e s ia s *
T IC A L ,
S e v e r e L a*w s ,