New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-09-12
REVELATIONS OF JAPAN.
Education, Manners and Character of the
Japanese.

The clothing of the japanese exhibits
the same peculiarires which characterize their
life and customs The Dutch have adopted the
,apon, their outer garment, which has come into
general use among them, and Is now worn IN
Batavia and the principal Dutch cities The
Japon Is a sort of gown, open IN front, falling IN
many folds, from It's width, and confined 10y
scarf or girdie 1t is the universal garment OF
men and women, high and low, rich and poor.
For the women it descends into a train behind +,
the men wear il of equal length all around 1t
is made OF Grape, silk or cotton stuff the wc-
men mostly choose brilliant coors, and Their "a
pops are frequently embroidered with flowers, or
bordend with costly irnges of gold and silver.
In Winter. silk OK cotton Inning Is sewed INTO
the wadding Sometimes two or three lapons
are worn one over the other the females reach
even twelve which are then made Of the finest
Grape or silk The sleeves are very broad. and
partly sewed or buttoned up to the hand. so
that the ends hang down like pockets, and are
frequently used as such The men wear their
scaris and glrdlcs of hands breadth, but with
the women the band rs broad, and shaped some
thing like pam Of stays taperlng at the back
into two long points. 1t is always made OF the
most costly materials
Shirts are not among the necessities of the
japanese. The men wear a cloth around the
Ions. and the women a broad apron which reaches
to the knee. The nobility and men Of rank also
wear sort Of pantaloon, starched very stlf' and
laid IN regular folds. In cold weather socks of
cotton cr linen. reaching to the cali, are worn
The shoes, OF rather sandals, are made OF straw,
or vanished wood. fastened by bands passing
over the top of the FOO, The lower order wear
Japon reaching only halfway 10 the knee, M
der which are long trowsers
In the streets nearly all the males wear dark
coored nantes with sleeves, and open IN front ,
the women wear similar garment, reaching 10
the fee, and provided with a cowl, which can be
drawn oVet the head On festival days and all
great occasions the men also wear a parade
mantle, finely starched and folded, fastened at
the neck and falling overthe shoulders oblIquely,
before and behind In front, on both sides Of the
breast and between the shoulder blades. the
coat of-arms Of the wearer-or his master, II a
SERVANTS worn. Each Japanese, to whatever
rank he may belong, has coat-oi-arm> The
married. women wear the insignia OF their nus.
bands
The great PRIDE OF the people since they wear
no ewelS or other ornaments, consists m the
richness of the apon The Emperor wears
garment only once, the punces Tor q few DAYS,
the next IN rank for a longer period. and 50 down
TO the common people Ii Is q custom among
the nobility 10 give their ca>t.oh apons 20 her
ayofteS, the tact OF the donor having Worn the
garment enhances is value The people mostly
so barchCade3, and much care Is therefore be
slowed on the hair The men Keep their boards
clearly shayeu the hair Is sheared on the
crown. but allowed to grow on the back part of
the head. whence II falls IN a long queue The
women comb their hair TO the crown where II
Is fastened IN q knot The comt> and needles
which aCorn the hair are made OF tortoise-shell.
and those which are white or yellow, without,
tie &cmiAtUTe oi brown spots, are considered
most valuable The women aso 3u>ithelr faces
Win "hlte powder the lips are painted. mrs,
With CRIMSON and ,henwi,A purple dust. which
gives them transparent brllancv In most
parts OF The empire the married women blackeu
their teeth. d maiden does this. immediately
after her 1euo,hal, II Is held as very catering
compliment TO the bridegroom
Neither men nor women cover their heads IN
general. whether IN q oui OF doors. whence the
use Of umbrellas as protection against the sun
and rain 4 napkin, or veil, Is worn over the
head by women OF al classes 10 pro,ec, the halr
ornaments iron rain and dust >edan-cha.rs are
in general use ia the cities. They are OF Two
knds-,he norunoHo used by The higher orders.
and the kargo. or basket. ,or the lower. On
longer journeys, horses are mostly used. both for
earning men and merchandise. The folds OF
the jeroa at the breast serve As pocket ios car