Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-13


idolatry rather than TO nothing. fi9 NE
1t has been said thought that the federation of diff
ferent sects is promising omen for missionary work
Japan and IL has actually been proposed should en-
trance be forced yielded in the great barrier
against national intercourse which these singular islands
have for many centuries maintained that the Christian
missionaries should place themselves under the protection
OF the spiritual emperor IT. is said Christianity would
come down from its transcendenta and exclusive position
would the right of total independence, the
cross might triumph the centimanous del
ues OF buddhism. Now, far from saying that the
Portuguese mission without its faults or that we
should not do WELL did the occasion OFFER entirely to
AVOID that interference with secular politics, which,
sooner or later becomes the bane Of all Jesuit missions
ana through which, in Japan, the church planted by
Aaver fell But there are two especial difficulties con-
neced with any Japanese mission In recognising the
OF the country, and in submitting to its ordi
hances II IS difficult to how mission could disn-
sush between the coordinate secular and eccesastc
anthorues While the Mikado OF Dairi claims to be I've
son ana representative of Deity so long as the spirit
emperor is not only protector Of the sects but hmsen
merits inc theocracy, so long an innate ho/ss is
uscroed 10 MS person. and so long he claims ticker
else the attributes of Divinity the power Of
anu pestence and the like it all but IMPOSSIBLE
Tor any Christian mission to recognise the Mkado at ALL
or his authority.
The separation of the State authority inc two theo
retica independent functions and the necessity Of re-
cognisng BOTH is then especial difficulty in the way
OF evangezng Japan; and it is pf growth;
for In Aaver days it had not taken present definite
form. Add to this that Christianity has been tried and
reeced an apostae country is harder to reclaim than
simply heather The Gospel is SAVIOR of death unto
death II is hoped, however, that if Christianity
presented with simpler rites and direct gons to
that form of it against which the Japanese are SO preu
decd "A troop of reformed missionaries might again
have chance of success so we told but must
not forget that Japan has received and rejected the Cos
pei under Roman Catholic auspices it has in the person
OF the Dutch seen something of It's reformed aspect If
the one has repeled the other would not be likely to at
tract either the philosphzng from his
afInnc fha n1at
The Christians Of Xavers church might provoke popu-
lar tdmult, by insulting the Da gentam Of Sin
toosm or Buddhism all that the Japanese know of Chris
tanty under any other FORM that presented by the
Hoanders who helped the Japanese idolaters to
ere the Japanese Christians These i'll for the
evangezaon of Japan and, though do not and dare
not for single moment doubt of the ultimate of
our Church, in the great work of Oriental MISSIONS
If fairly presented in its principles yet what has al
ready been detailed of Japan will to show what
especial hindrances it must encounter if the work of
planting the cross in Nphon should be reserved for
for our American brethren. y y
However, are venturing on subjects perplexing if
not painful; we will therefore turn to promising
aspect of the Japanese character and is connected
with our last observations, some account of japanese
learning, and of the general diffusion of education, viii
not be out OF places only promising that the Japanese
language is monosyabc,* that paper made OF bark is
said to have been used early the seventh century,
and that the art of printing from engraved wooden blocks
is some centuries older than its European invention
introduction.
q From the moment the Japanese acquired written
language their literature advanced rapidly and it APP
pears to have improved from age to age Unfortunately
Europe it is scarcely known but from the few Japa-
books that have fallen into the hands Of learned for
egners and from the accounts left by missionaries
and other travellers it is evident that these people pos
works Of all kinds, historical compositions, geogra
phca and other scientific treatises, books natural
history voyages and travels, moral philosophy CYCLIC
p9das dramas, romances poems, and every component
part Of very polite literature
" The wide diffusion Of education which has been
than mentioned is of recent date The first of
all the missionaries who visited the country found schools
established wherever they went The sainted Xavier
mentions the existence of four academies in the vcin
ity of Mako at each of which education afforded to
between three and four thousand pupils adding that
considerable these numbers WERE they quite in
significant in comparison with the numbers instructed at
an institution the city Of Bandone and that such
institutions universal throughout the empire.
!" Nor does il appear that these institutions have de-
creased in modern days Speaking of the early part of
the present century, M. Meyan states that children Of
both and of all ranks invariably sent to rudi
menary schools where they learn read and write and
initiated into knowledge Of the history Of their
country To this extent at least il is considered
necessary that the meanest peasant should be educated
Our officers who visited the country as late as The year
lSi5 ascertaned that there existed at Nagasah college
in which, additionally TO the routine Of native acquire
ments, foreign languages were taught Among the ysi-
tiers on board our ship many spoke Dutch. Some under
stood little French. One young student understood
English slightly could pronounce few English words,
caught readily at every English expression that struck
him. and wrote it down in his note book They all seem
ed to be toerably well acquainted with geography and
Of them appeared to have acquaintance with
guns and the science Of gunnery The eagerness Of all
of them to acquire information greatly delighted our
officers
"The Japanese printers keep the market well supplied
with cheap easy books, intended for the instruction Of
children or people of the poorer classes The editions
impressions of books Of higher order appear to be
uncommony numerous. Most Of these books are illus
tated and explained with frequent woodcuts which
engraved on the same wood blocks with the type Like
the Chinese they only print one side OF their thin
paper. An imperial cyclop@da, printed at Mako, IN
the spiritual Emperors palace, is most copiousy embel
lished with cuts
Gan are agreed that reading is favore resource and
recreation with both sexes and that the Dar or court OF
the Mikado is emnently a bookish, literary court
1t is said that few sights more common in Japan,
during the sunny Of the year, than that OF
group Of ladies gentlemen seated by cool running
stream or in shady grove, each with book in hand.
Whatever their literature may be- II Is evident that it
delights them and that il has polished their manners
NaeFdrians's Japan, PIP. 3T2-375.
II is added also that every Japanese, Of whatever
rank is to school IL is said that there more
schools in japan than in any other country in the worlds
and that the peasants and poorest can read
that contrary TO Oriental practice the minds Of the
equally cultivated with those Of the men. Many
Of their authors female and travellers enthusias
tic in praise Of their courty and refinement me
national vice among the is incontinence but female
chastity is in universal esteem. We conclude with an
account Of the national amusement which presents very
pleasing elements Of high and almost incredible evi-
zation:
" In the great world the young ladies find delight at
their social meetings in every description Of fine work
the fabrication Of pretty boxes artificial flowers painting
of fans, birds, and animals, pocketbooks purses pt