New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-16

IW~x UNI OA4Al 4SANA'@
in token Of nobility and receiving from the trading
and lsboring classes the title of som1 or my lord
TIR LAWS.
The Japanese laws are very severe, death beng IN
theory the punishment for almost every oiiense though
in practise imprisonment and Hogging are often sub
stued. The noble and the peasant the rich ana Tue
poor are punished alike fines and bail being unknown
in Japan The laws consist of SIMPLE and nteliigole
edcts issued from time to time in the name OF the
coon, printed copies Of which are hung up in puohc
places. There are no lawyers every man conducting
his own case before the magistrate, who gives sum
mary decision, which is executed without delay.
Cases of great Importance are referred to he ohiei
Justice at Mako, TO the imperial Council III enuo
Justice il said to be administered with great purity and
with much decorum and solemnty.
The history of japan, like that Of other ancient ma
tions, begins with mythical period during when
gods and goddesses mingled openly in the anars Oh
men. The authentic annals OF the country colh
mence with the reign of Sin Mu who was at the same
time High Priest and Emperor, about geo b. c. lie
is said 10 have civilized the people, and to have esto
iished laws and settled government. For many cen,
turtles his posterity reigned ON the throne he nsd
founded bearing the title of Mkado, and claiming 70
rule by divine right and inheritance. They were
worshped gods upon earth and long exercised ,ns
most absolute power. Women were not excluded
from the succession and in ancient Japanese history
there are many famous expresses. The most ceie-
gan her reign in the third century of the Christian era
She conquered Corea and gave birth TO son who sue
ceeded her, and who was so successful and renowned
that at his death he was deiied and 10 now the ia
panese god of war. In this early period free inter
course appears to have been carried on with China
from which country about the middle Of the sixth cen
fury Buddhism entered Japan, and was extensively
spread among the people. Toward the end OF the sew
enh century the claims OF two brothers 10 the ,nroh
led to great civil war, which was ended by The de-
feat and suicide of the younger.
HISTORY OF JAPAN.
About the end of the eighth century foreign peo-
pie, Of whom nothing more Is known than that they
were not Chinese but natives of some distant country
invaded Japan, and being constantly reinforced rom
home maintained hostitiea for eighteen years before
they were entirely expelled. Between the ninth ana
twelfth centuries several new religions were intro
duced by foreign priests or by Japanese returning
from foreign countries. The reign OF the Emperor hs
Sio f9s7-l0l2) was remarkable for great epidemic
over the whole country and for the number OF learned
men whe adorned the court In the reign OF tio hei
Sen lO46- go great rebellion took place in the Prov
incc of Ou, which lasted for hve years ana IL mucn
celebrated in Japanese literature. Another famous re-
beion was headed by Kijomori, prince OF the blood
in the reign Of To Ba 1l0824. About the middle Of
the twelfth century during the reign Of the Emperor
Kon Jei, the authority of the Mkado began TO decline
The yassa princes took advantage OF the weakness OF
the Imperial Government to strengthen their own
power and great confusion ensued.
To remedy thcse evils the Court of the Mikado crc-
ated the Office of Sogun Commander-in-chief OF The
army and appointed the post Jorltomo, one OF the
most celebrated characters in Japanese history. He
was young soldier of high birth, related to the impe
rial family, and successful and ambitious, 30 tha
after queAing the turbulence Of the great yasaL ana
restoring the authority of the crown he contrived 10
concentrate in his own hands the real power OF the
government without, however, deprving the Mikado
Of his nominal rank, dignity, and religious supremacy
The Office Of Siogun was made hereditary IN thc
family of Joritomo, whose descendants became IN lae'
ing invaded China in 1850 and conquered the
greater part of it, their leader, Kublai Khan,
sent ENJOYS TO Japan 1868, and again IN l2'l ana
1878, summoning the japanese government 70 enter
the ENJOYS without any answer. The biongol con-
oueror rrtaied at their insulting Indifference to bis
proposals. sent against them great heet ana army III
1274 or, according TO Marco Polo, IN l2ol. Inns eA
pedition landed in Japan but was defeated, and the
army cut TO pieces. A still greater expedition was dis
patched in 1851 and met similar end, the japanese
sparinp only three Of the invaders to carry back to
China the of the fate OF the rest. Japan, from
atimo to the present. had not been moieSted by In
vaders.
In the sixteenth century civil wars broke out, and
revolution took place, by which Faxiba, man OF ex'
traordinary ability and energy, originally private
soldier was raised the supreme command and became
sogun under the name of Taiko Sanla or Lord Taiko
with the additional title Of Tycoon, which IL now the
appellaton commonly gwen TO the Emperor vi iedno,
or lay Emperor He was the first secular monarch
who assumed entirely the absolute cODtrO1 Oh
pire, some share in the government having been
hitherto granted TO the mikado who was now reduced
TO the condition of merely nominal monarch. IsiRo
Sauna regarded by the Japanese IA the highest char
acter in their history, at least since the mythical Pc
Rod and was eminent not only warrior and states
man but IA a legislator. His laws and policy are to
this day observed by the Government OF Japan, and
have secured to the nation an almost unequaied per-
manence of peace and prosperity. The turbulence OF
the vassal princes who were then only % In number
and were consequently individually powerful, was the
chief source Of the troubles that had afflicted the EN-
pre- and Taiko Sauna took the decisive step OF reouc
ing their forces by dividing each prncpalty into sew,
eral This policy, steadfastly carried out by MN and
his Successors has resulted in establishing 6v4 distinct
prncipslites and lordshs none OF which are OF sni
fcient magnitude 10 be formidable 10 The ImperHi
power. :
II was during the confusion that preceded the rise OF
Tako Sauna that the Europeans began TO be connected
with the affairs of japan. The existence OF that EN-
pire was first made known 10 Europeans by 'ne 'ehe
an traveller Marco Polo who, in his narrative written
about 1898 mentions it under the name OF Zipaneu n
modification of the Shi-pen-kuo Of the Chinese, from
whom he obtained his information. lie says; Hs
Inhabitants have fair compexions, are well made ana
are civilized in their manners. Their reilgion Is inc
worship of idols. They are independent Of any ioreg
power and governed only by their own kings. Iney
have gold in the greatest abundance MS sources oeg
nexhaustble; but the King does not allow oi It's
being exported few merchants visit the country, nor
ia il freouented by much shipping from other parts
The Portuguese after Vasco da Cana had doubled the
Cape of Good Hope in 1897, rapidly extended their
discoveries and conquests in Southern Asia. In l5il
three Portuguese sailors who had deserted their ship
and taken possession of Chinese junk, were driven
by storms upon the coast of Japan, and to them il as
cribed It's European discovery.
About three years later, Portuguese adventurer,
Fernam Mendez Pinto Whose name was for long
period synonym for liar, but whore yeracity has
been reestabshed by modern cricism while cruising
with some companions of his own nation IN he yessei
of Chinese pirate was driven by foul weather into
harbor in one of the smaller Japan islands. He was
well received and carried back to the Portuguese set
Elements in China such report Of the riches and mag