Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-06-15
G5elctteo AlistcIIanp.
ORIGIN OF THE JAPANESE.

Many have supposed that the Japan
csc are descended from the Chinese; but
it is not SO. The evidences are that they
are an original nation. The language Of
the two people is entirely different, both
in construction and pronunciation So
the religion Of the two nations differed.
The original religion of Japan was the
Sintoo, the gods and idols of which were
Sin and Kane
Buddhism, which now prevails, was
not introduced into the Empire until SO
years after the birth of Christ Chinese
settled in Japan in the seventh year of
the Sth monarch of the Empire, Kokem,
and there was considerable trade between
the two Empires prior to 1857, after
which it was restricted They introdu G.
ed and communicated by these spars set
Elements from time to time the arts aud
sciences to Japan, which had long before
Aourished in China. Kmmfer, beside
these reasons for denying that the Chi
nese and the japanese are the same peo-
| pie inhabiting different countries, incllnes
to the opinion that the Japanese are de-
scendants Of the FIRST inhabitants of Baby
lon, and their language one Of those
which God, as punishment and for the
confusion Of its vain and conceited build
ers, infused into the minds of those who
commenced the tower Of Babel He
thinks that the confusion of tongues
brought the people who then dwelt in the
plains of Shinar, to separate and be dis
persed over the world This is an nge-
NOUS theory; but the general opinion is
that the japanese belonged originally to
the great Tartar race. Information is
too limited, however, to solve the ques-
ton satisfactorily.
The Empire of Japan has two Empe-
rors, one ecclesiastical and the other secu-
lar. The first is called the Mikado, and
resides in Mikao. lie is the first in rank
and is regarded with excessive venera-
ton, but has no political power whatever
The second is called the Ziogoon, who
resides at Yeddo lie commands the
army, has the revenues at his disposal
is Emperor de facto, and visits the Mi
kado once in seven years with great pomI
and pagean;ry. A Council Of State con
sists Of thirteen, of which five are taker
from the hereditary vassal princes, anc
eight from the hereditary nobility below
the rank Of princes.
This Council of State governs in thu
Dame of the Emperor--Iiogoon A
mong those councillors there is one call
ed the "Goyernor of the Empire" t.
whom the others arc subordinate. Their,
are numerous other inferior officials, bu
the Empire is ruled by those already
named aud while the laws are sanguina
ry-death being the penalty in most ca
ses Of ofense--the whole system is a gov
eminent Of spies, and as absolute aa any
if not the most absolute, in the world.
1t was our purpose to make brief re
view of the progress Of christianity ii
Japan subsequently, to its introduction
in l549 by the Jesuits, Of the bitter per
secutions also to which it was exposed
and the martyrdoms which preceded it
bloody extirpation. Bat we have alread,
trespassed so much upon the indulgence,
Of our readers that we must defer on
wishes in that respect to a more oppor
tune time, if indeed we shall consider it
Of sufficient interest to pursue the sub
ject hereafter. In the hope, then, tina
this rapidly drawn sketch Of Japan anc
its people may be interesting in connec
ton with the Embassy to the United
States, we shall, without further ado
conclude it.
EDUCATION IN JAPAN.
The japanese have more general cd
ucation than the Chinese, and are moi
bound down by the absurd letters Of an.
cient custom in regard to course Of study
that keep the latter in such benighted
condition. In aptitudes for new pursuits
they are excelled by few. Capt. Colo
winn relates that a young japanese learn
cd the Russian from him in an incrcdi-
bly, short time, and when Com. Perry
arrived at Yeddo he found that they were
familiar with our own history, and that
even the Mexican war, with its battles
and results, were fully known among the
officials with whom Mr.. oliphant, the
historian Of the English Embassy, asso.
ciated. Mr. Oliphant remarks:
Although we took leave to doubt the
existence Of professors Of European Ian
oua0aa a. Yaddo there il M nnnafior,