The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-29
Japan. and the japanese.

sss Japan and the Japanese.
Recent efforts to open intercourse with
the far-off islands of Japan have excited
considerable interest throughout the civil
lied world. A few remarks on the man.
ners and customs OF. that strange people,
win, weshopa, be interesting to our young
readers.
The empire of japan embraces a group
of islands lying off the north cas-; coast OF
Asia. Various opinions have been held
respecting the race from which the Japan
ese sprang. 1t is now, however. pretty
generally believed that they are closely al
lied to thaF Northern tribes of Asia, from
whoa. they migrated thousands of years "a
go.
For a considerable length Of time Japan
was open to commercial intercourse with
European nations, the Portuguese and
Spaniards especially enjoying the advan-
tages Of traffic. Owing. to difficulties, oc.
oasioned chiefly by Jesuits, foreigners OF
all elimes were expelled. Thus for two
ntnfiess Japan has been almost entirely
1iilkI5p 10 ahs civilized woFld
Ga a <iphrY tlssss OF both sexes and all
mn = 33prIi1 9exy similar, differing
Slief{ 4 jn t6e colors. delioacy, and value
: q m65sfialss Il consists of a number
III t66sz wide gown worn over each 9TH
hose Of NE low efs Or diers made of lin
en- or calico. those of ihaxligher generally
of silk--with Sthe family arms woven or
worked intothe back and breast Of the out
& er robe. and all fastened at the waist by
q girdle. The sleeves are often en- ormous
Ia width and length, and the portion that
hangs below the arms is sometimes closed
attic end, to answer.the purpose Of a pock-
et.sss
This description applies to both sexes !;
but the ladies usually wear brighter colors
than the men, and border their robes with
gayembroidery or gold. Gentlemen wear
q scarf over the shoulders its length is
regulated by the rank of the wearer, and
serves in turn TO regulate the bow with
which they greet each other, in asmuch as
it is indispensable TO bow to superior un-
til the ends Of the scarftouch the ground.
Tho head-dress constitutes the chief
difference, in point OF ofscostume, between
the sexes. The men shave the whole front
and crown oi the he ads; the rest ofthe hair.
growing from the temples and back OF the
head, isscArefully gathered together. drawn
a sort fluff. Some professions, however.
deviate from this general fashion Buddhist
priests and physicians shaving off all the
hair, while surgeons retain all theirs, gath
cred into knot at the top ofthe head
The abundant hair Of the women is ar
ranged into the form of a turban, and stuck
full of pieces of fine tortoiseshell, fifteen
inches long, Of the thickness Of a mans
finger, highly wrought. and polished to
look like gold. They are said TO be ex-
tremely costly and the more of them pro-
iects from. q lady's hair, the better she is
dressed. They wear no jewelry or other
Neither men nor women wear hats ex-
cept as protection against rain the fan
is deemed sufficient guard from the sun;
and perhaps nothing wilfmore strike the
foreigner than this fan. which he will be-
hold in. the hand or the girdleof the Jap
anese. Soldiers and priests are never to
be seen without their fans. 1t serves a
great variety of purposes visitors receive
thesdainties offered them upon their fans !;
the:beggar, imploring charity, holds.out his
fan, for the aims his prayer may have OBJ
tanned -
The Japanese are passionately fond OF
music, and their traditions give the art a
divine origin. in summer they frequently
repair to the country OF some rural place
for plsaspre. k.arge eomRanies will spend
tbs aflefhden an nd:eSening g pponl As lskes,
rivers, or bays Of the seas, and. in. their
richlY-orn amented bo atsa enjoy the music
and banquet. In short. the japanese. are
a'.ohserlnl and harmless race.
The population Of Japan, which is va
riously estimated by different writer's at
tror, $4,000 600 TO 100000 and even
45,0Oo.OOO of souls, is divided, if not ex-
actly into castes, yet into nearly hereditary
classes. II is held to be the duty Of every
indiyidualsto remain through life in the
class in. which he was born, unless exalted
Bys some very peculiar and extraordinary
circumstances. To endeayor to rise above
station is somewhat discreditable; TO
sink below it, utterly so. ,~.e'
In, Japan, due pains are taken to make
,be laws known to all classes alike: In
every town and village is a spot, inclosed
M nsliissades, where. from scafold, every
pew law is proclaimed to the people; and
where il is afterward placarded, for the
bene6, of such as may have been absent
from The proclamation. The code OF po..
lice regulations is constantly piacarded
there. In fact, the administration OF JUS
49, e .a;d 10 be extremely pure, making