The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-06
HISTORIC PAcTs coSCERSISG
90 - JAPAN.

The authentic history Of Japan begins
between the fifth and seventh centuries,
for the general use Of letters for the pur-
pose Of recording events cannot be pushed
further back than 4O3 a. D.. and the COM
/ piiation Of the national annals was not
started until GAO A. d. The early records
were destroyed By FIRE, and students now
| have to rely for information concerning
| japanese antiquity upon two works COM
posed respectively in Ill and 40 4. D., or
oontemporaneously with the Moslsm con-
| questof Spaiu.
| These records were compiled 800 years
after the Emperor yimmu. with whom the
legendary history Of Japan begins, and
who may be described as q contemporary
Of Copfucius. Compared with China, it is
evident that Japan is Young country,
and, contrasted with the Egyptian and
| Chaidean civilizations, IL represents very
late sociological experiment.
The first conquest of Korea BY the
japanese took place in the third century
Of our era. and from Korean immigration
Japan derived its knowledge Of weaving.
u
the production and manufacture Of silk.
From the Koreans the Japanese learned
the art Of tile making, of sewing and
tailoring.
The rudiments ofthe art Of pottery we're
known IN Japan at an early date, for in
the reign of the Emperor suinim (2s B.
CHA. Do it is recorded that horses. men
and all kinds Of figures were manufac-
tufed of pottery for interment in and
around the imperial tombs. The arrival
OF Chinese keEafaIsts naturally gave
q great impetus TO the art. The
blaeksmith's craft was also known
at a very early date. Swords were
forged with great skill. and it IS said
thatirono helmets were made before the
| Christian era. But after the conquest of
Korea many metal workers crossed over TO
Japan, and large iron articles began TO be
| manufactured. With the Introduction of
| Buddhism the goIdsmith's craft also made
great progress. Hide dressers from Korea
settled in the prov inee of Yamato, and
subsequently tanners were imported from
| China, who not only cured skins, but
made them into saddles and various other
| articles. As Cor the arts Of manufacturing
| paper, ink. whetstones and dyes, these were
taught by Korean priest in the reign of
the Empress Suiko (59l-629 A. d.. The
development, likewise, of the musical art
dates from theestablishment of intercourse
| with Korea and China Painting was first
| taught by Chinese artist who arrived in
| japan aboutthe middle of the Fl fifth century.
| ToEhinese physicians, moreover, must be
ascribed the Introduction of surgery and
! Sniko dispatched some Of her subjects to
China for the purpose OF studying medi-
cine, after which the Chinese system of
treating diseases was generally prscticed
In Japan,
Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit mis-
sionary. began to propagate Christianity
in Japan in 1918 aud the attempt was Wig
orously prosecuted for nearly a century.
| Finally an edict was issued forbidding the
| propagation Of the foreign faith, but off,
| cial attention was shortly afterward di-
yerted from the Christians 10 q war
against Korea. Thus things remained in
statu quo until the administrative power
came into the hands of Iyeyasu. founder
OF the T6kugaya Shogunate Q6O3 A. d.
when he, being assured by an inyestiga-
tlon. which followed charges made by the
/ Dutch traders. that the spread Of Catholic
| Christianity tended TO foster a spirit Of in
tolerance and to provoke ectarian qaarrels.
took measures 10 put an end TO il. To
that end he expelled the foreign mission
a-ies from Japan and deputed Buddhist
priests to reeoaveFt the Japanese who had
embraced the Christian creed. Fer some
years the native Christians, who eonsti-
tuted almost the entire population of the
provinces OF Bungo ana HiEen, where even
the feuAal barons were converts, suffered
4 in silence, bat in 1857 formidable insur-
rection hfoke out. Ia which some 5000
soldiers are said TO have taken part The
rebels INFLICTED many defeats upon the gov
eminent forces, bat eventually their strong
hold wAs taken aud the defenders nut
90 the sword. Their experiences with the
j Jesaits taught the Sheguns. according to
tire book before as, that the spread Of
Catholic Christianity was attended with
the gTayest dangers TO public tranquility.
stfact lass were therefore enacted Tor its
suppression, from whose operation the
Dutch frotessaHts were to certain ex-
tent exempted. for the reason that they
made no attempts Al propagandism.
Henepiorth Baddhism was practically
adopted IS the national religion. receiving
the allegiance u all classes. high and low
/