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


The followers Of Sino have temples rituals they
nav supreme homage to Confucus and religously
venerate tlUb ancestors. Intimately connected with
Buddhism % the doctrines Of Lao.ISe whose fol-
tend to magical art, and frequent the rcccsses Of noun
tans and craggy sleeps whence they come forth 20 tell
fortunes, write charms and cell amuets. They lead
mysterious life, and admit no to fher secrets cx-
cePt after tedious and difficult preparation by
fasting and species Of severe gymnasiic exercises
All sects be tolerated by the Government and
TO live in harmony with each other. The authorities
of the State appear 10 be indifferent TO mere doctrines
30 long as the public tranquility is not disturbed
Soon after the first introduction of Christianity in
the tenth century Of the heather priests petit
toned the Emperor Nobunanga to prohibit the new
and foreign faith. The Emperor asked them how
many different religions there were in Japan He
was told there were 35 upon which he remarked;
Where IS religions are tolerated can easily bear
with &c. leave the strangers in peace" Meylen, a
Dutch official who resided for several years at Maya
saki, says his Sketches Of the Manners aud Gus
toms of Japan" Never do we hear of any religious
dispute among the Japanese much less discover that
they bear each other any hate religious grounds.
They esteem it. the contrary, act OF courtesy to
visit from time TO time each Others gods and do them
reverence. While the koboe sends embassy to the
Snto temple at Isye TO offer prayers in his name, he as
signs at the time for the erection Of temples
10 Confueus and the spiritual emperor allows strange
gods imported from Siam or China, to be placed, for
the convenience Of those who may feel call to wor-
il lie asked whence this tolerance originates, and by
what il ia maintained reply from this that worship
ers of all persuasions in Japan acknowledge and obey
superior, namely, the daira or spiritual emperor
As the representative and nea descendant OF God on
earth he is himself object of worship, and as such
he protects equally all those whose object it is to ven
crate the Deity the mode of their doing being ndf-
ferent to him."
THE SPIRITUAL EMPEROR.
The most remarkable feature of the religion as well
he NJ tho m the Rpr-
itual emperor, sometimes called the dair but whose
proper title is the mkado dari meaning court or pal.
ace and when applied 10 the mkado is an abbreyia-
ton Of daIr sam or lord Of the palace. He is the
bodment of the idea Of an absolute, divnelycommis-
stoned sovereign the vicegeren of God on earth, and
his Office 10 be that Of the Dalai Lama or Grand
Lama OF Thibet. He claims descent from Sn-Mu, who
abont Go b. c. first established regular Government
in Japan. There has been recent account OF the
mkado, and to this day the work Of K&mpfer, pub.
shed in 1728 is the chief Of knowledge OF
this spiritual sovereign as II is on almost all japanese
matters. According 10 Kampfs, the mikado 10 con-
sidered so holy that he is not allowed to touch the
ground with his feet but when he goes anywhere is
carried on mems shoulders. Much less will they
suffer that he should expose bis sacred person 10 the
open air; and the sun is not thought worthy 10 shine
on his head There is such holiness ascrbed to al
parts of the body, that he dares cut off neither his
hair, nor his beard nor his nails. However, lest he
should grow too dirty, they may clean him in the night
when he is asleep because they say that what is taken
from his body at that time hath been stolen from hun,
and that such theft does not prejudice his holiness or
dignity. In ancient times he obliged to sit the
throne for hours every morning with the Imperial
crown on his head but 10 sit altogether like statue,
without stirring either hands feet head eyes nor
indeed any part of his body, because by this it
was thought that he could preserve peace and tranquil
lily in his empre for if, unfortunately, he turned him.
self on one side tho other, if he locked good
while toward any part of his dominions it appre-
hended that war famine fire, other great mis-
fortune was near at band to desolate the country.
But it having been aferward discovered that the I'm
perial crown the palladium which, by Its immo-
bility, could preserve peace in the empire, it WAS
thought expedent deliver his Imperial person, con-
sscrated only to dleness and pleasure, from this bur
densome duty, and therefore the crown alone IN at
present placed on the throne for several hours every
morning His victuals must be dressed every time in
new pots and served al tables In Dishes both are
very clean and neat, but made only of common clay,
that, without any considerable expense, they may be
laid aside broken after they have served They
are generally broken for fear they should into the
hands Of laymen for they believe reigiousy that If
any layman should presume TO eat bis food out OF those
sacred dishes would swell and inHame his mouth and
throat The like i'll effect ia dreaded from the darts
sacred habits for they believe that if layman should
wear them without the emperors express leave or
command, they would occasion pain in all parts Of his
BODY The mikado, though nominally the supreme
ruler of Japan, has in reality political power at all
He has no revenues except those of the small prnci-
pality of which Mako is the center, and an annual
present of great amount from the tycoon or tempo
Court Of the Mkado is very poor, and his dependents
are obliged to practice variety of arts in order to get
their living.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
The civil government of Japan is conducted under
systen of ancient laws which are administered with
rigor and adhered to with singular tenacy No ind
vidual in the whole empire, however elevated In rank,
is above the law, and those who comply with legal
reaustions do not to have any reason to dread
arbitrary power or capricious tyranny. The actual
government, though nOminally in the bands OF the
Tycoon at Yeddo is in fact conducted by Council OF
State composed Of five members OF the highest and old
eat nobility appointed by the Tycoon, and assisted bya
Minor Council of eight mobiles. Under these in regular
and very numerous grades, functionares OF all
kinds from Ministers of State down TO police officers
The imperial deseends to the eldest son OF the
TYCOON There also in the empire several hundred
hereditary princes who vassels OF the Tycoon but
are noininaly sovereigns within their own domlnons
These great feudatores, however, who are the de-
ssendans of ancient independent princes are closely
watched by the Imperial Council of State, by means OF
spies and inforrners; and the administration OF every
Prncipaity is really conducted not by the Prince nm
self or by ministers Of his own choice, but by TWO
secretaries appointed 6y the Saprems % ~ WeJ
do where the family Of the absent Secretary Is detained
as hostage for his fidelity. As further cheek upen
the vassa princes each of them 10 compelled to reside
during every alternate year or half year at feddo ana
they are kept from accommodating much treasure by
having heavy contributions levied upon them. They
are 80 harrased by surveillance and restraint that they
generally geek rebef IN abdicon OF ther ouoiesoHc
dppes az soon they have OF proper age to sue
coed them so that regning prince advanced in years
is rarely seen in Japan.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.
Every japanese head of family is personally re,
snonsbe for the conduct of his children servants, and
gnests and the whole population is divided into groups
of i've families every member of which is responsible
for the conduct of the others. No change his
residence without obtaining certificate of good con-
duct from the ncgbors he il about 10 leave, and per-
mission from those among whom he wishes TO CO. Inc
rsnlt of this organization il that criminal has no hid
no rIace and consequently very few Epbberies, or