Peeps at Many Lands: Japan   By: John Finnemore (1863-1915)

JAPAN

BY

JOHN FINNEMORE

WITH TWELVE FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR

BY

ELLA DU CANE

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

II. BOYS AND GIRLS IN JAPAN

III. BOYS AND GIRLS IN JAPAN ( continued )

IV. THE JAPANESE BOY

V. THE JAPANESE GIRL

VI. IN THE HOUSE

VII. IN THE HOUSE ( continued )

VIII. A JAPANESE DAY

IX. A JAPANESE DAY ( continued )

X. JAPANESE GAMES

XI. THE FEAST OF DOLLS AND THE FEAST OF FLAGS

XII. A FARTHING'S WORTH OF FUN

XIII. KITE FLYING

XIV. FAIRY STORIES

XV. TEA HOUSES AND TEMPLES

XVI. TEA HOUSES AND TEMPLES ( continued )

XVII. THE RICKSHAW MAN

XVIII. IN THE COUNTRY

XIX. IN THE COUNTRY ( continued )

XX. THE POLICEMAN AND THE SOLDIER

XXI. TWO GREAT FESTIVALS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

BY ELLA DU CANE

OUTSIDE A TEA HOUSE

Sketch Map of Japan

THE LITTLE NURSE

THE WRITING LESSON

GOING TO THE TEMPLE

A JAPANESE HOUSE

OFFERING TEA TO A GUEST

FIGHTING TOPS

THE TOY SHOP

A BUDDHIST SHRINE

PEACH TREES IN BLOSSOM

THE FEAST OF FLAGS

THE TORII OF THE TEMPLE

CHAPTER I

THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

Far away from our land, on the other side of the world, lies a group of islands which form the kingdom of Japan. The word "Japan" means the "Land of the Rising Sun," and it is certainly a good name for a country of the Far East, the land of sunrise.

The flag of Japan, too, is painted with a rising sun which sheds its beams on every hand, and this flag is now for ever famous, so great and wonderful have been the victories in which it has been borne triumphant over Russian arms.

In some ways the Japanese are fond of comparing themselves with their English friends and allies. They point out that Japan is a cluster of islands off the coast of Asia, as Britain is a cluster of islands off the coast of Europe. They have proved themselves, like the English, brave and clever on the sea, while their troops have fought as nobly as British soldiers on the land. They are fond of calling themselves the "English of the East," and say that their land is the "Britain of the Pacific."

The rise of Japan in becoming one of the Great Powers of the world has been very sudden and wonderful. Fifty years ago Japan lay hidden from the world; she forbade strangers to visit the country, and very little was known of her people and her customs.

Her navy then consisted of a few wooden junks; to day she has a fleet of splendid ironclads, handled by men who know their duties as well as English seamen. Her army consisted of troops armed with two swords and carrying bows and arrows; to day her troops are the admiration of the world, armed with the most modern weapons, and, as foes, to be dreaded by the most powerful nations.

Fifty years ago Japan was in the purely feudal stage. Her great native Princes were called Daimios. Each had a strong castle and a private army of his own. There were ceaseless feuds between these Princes and constant fighting between their armies of samurai, as their followers were called. Japan was like England at the time of our War of the Roses: family quarrels were fought out in pitched battle. All that has now gone. The Daimios have become private gentlemen; the armies of samurai have been disbanded, and Japan is ruled and managed just like a European country, with judges, and policemen, and law courts, after the model of Western lands.