The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-24
JAPAN'S THIRD TRIAL
TWICE BEFORE SHE STARTED OUT
TO SURROGATE THE DRAGON.
The Mikado's Empire Has Acquired
the Arts of Civilization from Corea
by Force of Arms.


and did the honorS OF the empire, which
the Emperor could not attend to on ac-
count of being a confirmed invalid.
The Emperor Chuai lacked health and
strength to subjugate the southern prov
inces of Japan that were in almost COLI
slant rebellion against the crown. and
caused the government much serious trouble
as no sooner would al expedition return
from subjugating the rebellious southerners
than they would rise again. and it came to
the Emperor's knowledge that they were
backed up in these instructions by china
and Corea.
In Japan there then existed two armed
classes over which there was practically
little or no control, and clan broils and
single ~quarrels ending in bloodshed and
death were almost Of daily occurrence, even
in the best governed cities. This was true
of Yeddo and Kioto. 1t was much like the
Edinburgh of olden time.
Now, as the Emperor planned for subju-
eating the rebellious southerners and bring
ing his own subjects throughout the land
to a state of peace and good government
by the employment of the Samurai classes
he suddenly s;ckened and died, leaving the
Empress lingo the care Of his people and
the possessor of his famous sword. made
by the most celebrated swordmaker in all
Japan. and worth man, thousands of dol
lars. The girded sword is the living soul
OF the Samurai.'' This had long been the
motto of the Samuria classes. and the EN-
press lingo determined to adopt it as her
own, and she girded On the sword of her
husband. and with the counsel and advice of
the prime minister Takemonchi, (who is said
to have lived longer than any other human
being, Immediately set about making prep
a~rations for an expedition to subdue Corea.
Now, Takemonch was much revered
throughout the empire. and his age was a
clIhIeor Of marvel Even the oldest fnhahf-
tant of the Island Kingdom remembered
the prime minister as having always worn
the silvery locks and snowy hair of great
age, while possessing the keen eye and
sprightly step of youthful manhood, and
many, were the tales told of the charms
used by him to prolong life. the one gener-
ally accepted being that a colony OF good
foxes, who had the interest of the Kingdom
at heart, sent every fifty years the liver
which he ate raw and which insured him
fifty years more of useful existence.
JINGO'S EXPEDITION
So much was this good old man respected
throughout the land thai almost royal
hoi ors were accorded him everywhere, and
when it was known that ne was to be the
adviser and companion of the beautiful En-
press on her expedition to Corea, not only
the Samurai. but the loyal Japanese able
to carry arms. of every class and occupa-
ton. rallied around the banner of the IRIS
ing Sum-" and thus in POI A. D., the EN-
press lingo found herself at the head of
a great army and navy of finest war junks
setting out on an expedition TO subdue the
Coreans, all the dissatisfied southernerS for
getting their own differences and uniting
under the honored standard for the general
good of the country.
In Empress lingo was a tall and strik-
ingly. beautiful woman, and had caused to
De manufactured for herself a magnificent
armor to wear SO as to be proof against
both sword and lance, and the picture of
her arrayed in this armor standing ON the
deck of her flagship, the largest and finest
junk of the fleet, is frequently seen In all
parts of Japan. seated at her feet. and
pointing toward the shores Of Corea, which
the fleet is rapidly approaching. may be
Now, this expedition met with resistance
so determined and stubborn that it was
three years before Corea was subdued and
became a subject of Japan.
The Coreans were obliged to pay heavy
tribute annually, besides contributing to the
welfare OF Japan, by imparting to their
sessed, of manufacturing porcelain. of
growing and preparing tea, and of raising
the silkworm, spinning and weaving silk.
and last, but not least, the literature of
the Coreans. as this country was then
much more advanced than Japan.
The Empress lingo and Takemonchi. the
this knowledge possessed by the Coreans,
took back with them artisans In every
branch, and thus began the Introduction
OF many of the arts and industries now
known to the japanese government, while
the learned men brought over impaired to
the scholars of Japan the literature of Corea,
together With accounts or the wonderful
things existing in the home kingdom, which.
briefly stated, are as follows:
First. a hot mineral spring near Kin
Shantoa, the healing properties of which
are believed by the people to be miraculous.
No matter what disease may afiict the
patient, a dip In the water proves effica-
cious.
The second wonder is two springs. stu
ated at a considerable distance from each
other; in fact, they have the breadth of
the entire peninsula between them. They
have two pecuiiarities-when one is full
the other is always empty: and, notwith-
standing the fact that they are connected
by a subterranean passage, one is bitter
and the other Is pure and sweet.
The third wonder is a cold wave cave
a cavern from which a wintry wind per-
| petually blows. The force of the wind from
the cave is such that a strong man cannot
stand before it.
A forest that cannot be eradicated is the
fourth wonder. No matter what injury is
! done to the roots of the trees, which are
large pines, they will sprout up again d.
recteiy, like the phoenix from her ashes.
COREA'S FLOATING ROCK.
The fifth is the most wonderful of all.
1t is the famous floating stone" 1t stands.
or seems to stand, in front of the palace
erected in its honor. 1t is an irregular
cube of great bulk. 1t appears to be rest
ing on the ground, free from support on
Oil ci1OCf u diS ~ say wv llAC dl
opposite ends of the rope may pass it I'M
der the stone without encountering any
obstacle whatever.
The sixth wonder is the hot stone"
which, from remote ages, has lain, glowing
with heat, on the top of a high hill.
The seventh and last Corean wonder is a
drop from the sweat of Buddha. For thir-
ty PAGES around the temple in which Ii is
There are no trees or flowers inside the
sacred square. Even the animals decline
to profane a spot SD holy.
Corea continued until GAL A. D.. to pay
tribute, and Japan was Obliged TO send her
!. officers and troops to that country to MAIN
tain her rights, but as Japan learned the
Corean arts and improved Corea went back
ward, and 1t was found that the revenues
from that country did not equal the expense
of maintaining the Japanese power there,
| and the sending of troops 10 Corea was
stcppe
Now, about $50 years ago there arose a
| great general, who might be called the Ma
pc.eon of JAPAN His name was Taiko
| was next TO the Emperor In all things. But
to be still greater, and while he was too
| loyal ito his own country to attempt TO
| overthrow the crown. his ambition led him
to desire to be called the king of COrea
| and China and conquering Corea the Sec
ond time. Some historians claim that this
| expedition was solely for the welfare of
Japan, but nearly all Of them agree that IL
was to crafty the personal ambition of
| Taiko Hideyoshi. This expedition was under
the command of two great warriors. kato
| and Konishi. who subdued Corea and