Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-30
The Empire of japan.


founded about six hundred and sixty Ave years be-
fore Christ, by Simmu. From him to Snzakin there
appears to have been sixty-one Emperors. After
this PERIOD in the year 1l42, change took place.
From this time double chronology commences. in
GLIDING the reigns of the Dearios and Cubos. The
Dearos military officers, and at period COM
pletely usurped the power of the Emperors, but
general by the name of Jeremo being crowned sue
ceeded III deprivng the Dearios of all military pow
er. At the present time the kingdom of Japan is
governed by an Emperor with full military powers.
Deario with full civil powers and Cubo or prime
minister, who has authority certain cities their
| Parliament, &c.
1.-THE kingdom of Japan consists of three large
and thirty forty smaller islands, situated off the
coast of China The largest of the islands is Nphon
the next Jesse On the Island of Rungo. southwest
of Tonso is the city of Nangaschi, and near that
city is the little artificial Island Dsna on which a
| Dutch factory is built.
''Jeddo, Yeddo. the capital of the whole empire
is situated in the midst of fine plain, in the prov
ince of Musace. 1t is built in the form of cres-
cent, and intersected in almost every street by ca
mails. their banks being planted with rows of beauti
full trees. The city is not surrounded most East
ern cities are, by wall, but has strong castle to
defend it. The river Tongag waters it, and sup
plies the castle ditch and, being divided into FIVE
streams has bridge over each. The public build
ings a magnificent scale. The imperial pal
is formed by three cnctures circular piles of
buildings and enclosing many streets, courts, apart
mens, pavilions, guardhouses gates, draw bridges.
gardens canals, &c. In it resides the Emperor and
his family. the royal domestics. tributary princes
and their retinues the Ministers of State many 9TH
er Officers of Government. and strong garrison
The walls of this magnificent palace built of
freestone without cement. and the stones prodgous-
| ly large. The whole pile originally covered
with gilt tiles, which gave it very grand and beau
tifu1 appearance. Many of the stately apartments
are formed and altered at pleasure by movable
screens. The principal apartments the Hall of
Attendance. the Council Chamber Hall of Thou
sand Mats &C.
The city is under the direction of two governors,
who rule year each.
The next largest city is Meaco. 1t is aslo roy
al city, and is situated on lake the middle of
the Island of Niphon and surrounded by mountains,
which give remarkable and lghtful prospect to
the whole the circumi acent country between the
city and the mountains is covered with temples Sc
pulchres, &C. &c. and is embellished with variety
of orchards, groves cascades. and purng streams.
Three considerable rivers water this fertile plain
and unite their streams in the centre of the city,
where magnificent stone bridge facilitates the COM
muncation between the different parts of the city
A strong castle defends the town: 1t sir hundred
CARDS an length, has tower in the centre. and is
surrounded by two bitches, the one dry. the other
full of water. This splendid city is 90 miles long and
wide within the suburbs, which are as we'll popu-
g lated the city The number of the inhabitants of
the city proper is supposed to be 529 900. The uni
versities. colleges, temples. &c, almost incred
BILE in number and magnifcence. 1t contains twelve
capital principal streets in the centre of which
the royal palaces, superby built of MARBLE and
adorned with gardens, orchards, pavons, terraces,
groves. &c.
The next principal town is Ozeaco 1t is deem
ed the chief seaport. is very populous, and has an
army of 10000 men always ready at the disposal
and command of the Emperor. 1t is fifteen
miles in circumference.
! The city of Nangascki is the Japanese naval de-
f pot but they have not yet found any use for a
navy, their vessels only in the rough material
and stored away for emergencies
! THE kokansa prison is here. The name means,
in the Japanese: hell it mas one hundred dungeons
: fair outline of the whole empire. Their private
dwellings small but neat, and ornamented with
small gardens; in this they excel, they are the
very best of horticuturists. A few feet of ground
are turned to the best advantage as the Japanese
understand perfectly the art of dwarfng plants.
trees fruits, and flowers. They use neither tables:
bedsteads, chairs but sit eat, and sleep, like
e most Eastern nations, mats.
Almost the first accomplishment learned by them
is the art and grace of suicide the child in the
sery stabs itself with its finger or stick. and falls
back in initiative death the lover cuts out his intes-
tines before his obdurate mistress, and the latter
pours out her hearts blood in the face of her faith
less lover; the criminal executes himself and, in
fact the whole nation from early youth, reyes in
the luxury of suicide.
Their trade is, at present under great restrc-
tons they only trade with the Chinese and Dutch
The latter have always fostered cherished and in
other nations, particularly the French, English, and
c Portuguese.
The mechanics and manufacturers in Japan ex-
eel in their different branches, and far
u perior to the Chinese. Their silks and cotons
l. excellent: and their Japan and porcelain I'M
equalIed. Their exports and manufactured
= silks iron steel. artificial metals. furs teas finer
than the Chinese. Japan ware, gold silver, copper,
J, gums. medicinal herbs. roots diamonds pearl coral
Shells ambergris, &c Whatever goods the japanese
Is want they pay for in gold and silver.
The Japanese worship the principal two gods
Xaca and Amida. At Maceo there is stately tenn
III pie built to of these gods it is of freestone
g large as ST. Pauls, with an arched roof supported
by heavy pillars, in which stands an idol of copper
J which reaches as high the roof and. according
to description given by Sir Thomas Herbert his
chair is seventy feet high and eighty feet long the
e. head is big enough to hold fifteen men, and the
thumb forty inches in circumference. There is an
~ other statue. called after the god Dabio, made O
, copper, twenty-five feet high, in sitting posture
III This shows that the Japanese understand the art
working in bronze; and they far ahead of Chris
in tian nations in this particular They allow pol yga
N.Y. and they often strangle their female children
out never the males. The nobility extract the TIVE
front teeth, and supply them with two of gold.
1.-THE principal rivers are the Uiingava and Aska
OF gava; the former rapid and wide that bridg
D. cannot be built it, the latter remarkable for it
depth and perpetual fluctuations. The chief lake i
called Citz is one hundred miles long and twenty
. one wide. large valley exists in the interior, ELL
H. ed with carbonic gas, and called the Valley Of tn
j. Upas 1t is covered with the skeletons of numerou
wild and tame beasts and birds. The Emperor. it i
said. often sent criminals to the valley to bring a
n Of iDo ab1 md