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A BOY of OLD JAPAN
A BOY of OLD JAPAN
BY R. VAN BERGEN Author of The Story of Japan, The Story of China, Heroic Japan, etc., etc. Illustrated with original Japanese Color Pictures BOSTON LEE and SHEPARD M C M I Copyright 1901, by LEE & SHEPARD All rights reserved A Boy of Old Japan Norwood Press Berwick & Smith, Norwood, Mass., U. S. A. TO MY LITTLE SON HENRY A. S. VAN BERGEN, IN RECOLLECTION OF OUR PLEASANT VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE...
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PREFACE
PREFACE
I am under deep obligations to the publishers, for giving me an opportunity to tell the story of the rejuvenation of Japan. I was a witness, although at that time I did not comprehend the movement, but I, and those few who are still living, do now. From a federation of mutually autonomous oligarchies, Japan was metamorphosed into an Empire which holds Russia at bay. From a nation occupying 150,000 square miles, it has expanded by the addition of Formosa, and its population has grown from thirty
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I JAPAN ASLEEP
I JAPAN ASLEEP
Japan had been asleep for more than two hundred years. About the time when the Pilgrim fathers landed in what is now known as the New England States, the man who ruled over Japan had made up his mind that he would have nothing more to do with the people of Europe, and he gave orders that no more foreigners should be admitted. He made one exception in favor of the people of Holland, but on condition that only a very small number of them should reside in Japan at a time; and they must be satisfied
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II THE OLD YASHIKI
II THE OLD YASHIKI
Great preparations for receiving guests were being made in the Kano Yashiki at Nagato. To-morrow would be the fifth day of the eleventh month of the fourth year of the oldest son and heir, and the boy would be invested with the hakama [17] of the samurai. There would be a great gathering of the Choshiu clan, for the Kano family had been great in the council, and was trusted by daimiyo and samurai alike. The history of the Mori family was as much the history of that of Kano, at least ever since K
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III THE MESSENGER
III THE MESSENGER
The intruder, if he may be so called, mounted the steps and, entering the room, saluted in the usual manner. He was invited to approach, and, clapping his hands, Kano ordered the servant to bring in another cushion, and fresh tea. When these had been brought, and the visitor was seated, Kano said: “When did you leave Yedo?” “Just a week ago.” “Is there anything new?” “Why, I think so. It is said openly by Tokugawa men that the foreign devils, with whom the Go rojiu have made a treaty, will be pe
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IV THE FIFTH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH
IV THE FIFTH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH
The day broke calm and smiling. Japan, especially those parts around the Inland Sea, has a lovely climate. It is seldom that the sky is not of a deep blue color, and the days are few when children cannot play or walk in the streets. They are rarely kept in the house. Young babies are securely fastened upon the backs of children six or seven years old, and sent into the streets. There are no noisy games. Girls play sometimes battledore and shuttlecock, but the boys are too dignified. American boy
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V THE COUNCIL OF THE CLAN
V THE COUNCIL OF THE CLAN
Before he seated himself, Kano called his chief samurai, and told him to have the sho ji put in so as to make the apartment of the usual size. He also ordered him to have several men patrol the garden, and to see that no one could approach the house, while he himself was to move noiselessly through the adjoining rooms, and answer for it that there should be no listener. Knowing that his orders would be obeyed, he sat down, ordered tea and hibachi to be brought, and without further ceremony opene
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VI YOUNG KANO GROWS UP
VI YOUNG KANO GROWS UP
While the Choshiu clan as well as the other clans of Japan, were anxiously watching the opening of Japan and the events which follow, Young Kano or Kano Ekichi [40] was taken gradually out of his mother’s hands and given to a faithful attendant of his father to be educated as a true samurai should be. Japanese boys are not baptized for there are few Japanese Christians, and in those days there were none; they have, therefore, no baptismal name. They have, however, given names, which are placed b
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VII KANO’S JOURNEY TO YEDO
VII KANO’S JOURNEY TO YEDO
The 1st of July, 1859, had come and gone, and the barbarians had been admitted into the Country of the Gods. They were only a handful; so few that Choshiu’s samurai could have pushed them into the bay by sheer force of numbers. While the Japanese people continued to toil, and cared nothing if there were any barbarians in the country or not, the samurai were getting more and more angry. Still, there was much curiosity mixed with this anger. The barbarians were so few in number; how could the Toku
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VIII YOKOHAMA IN 1859
VIII YOKOHAMA IN 1859
The junk had a fair voyage. The passengers who had not been on the ocean before, had suffered from seasickness, but, since the junk generally followed the coast, and often passed through smooth water, they had quickly recovered. The voyage up Yedo Bay had been very pleasant. But they met the tide when they were off Kanagawa, and as there was but little wind, the master had anchored. If they had known it, they would have looked behind them with some interest, for there was the spot where Commodor
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IX NEW EXPERIENCE
IX NEW EXPERIENCE
After eating their breakfast at an early hour on the following morning, Inouye went down stairs in search of the landlord. He found him sitting at his desk, as if he had not left it since their last conversation. He called for the bill, and gave such a generous tip that the landlord was highly pleased, and showed it by his repeated and humble bows. Inouye made a suitable reply, and then said: “Landlord, I have spoken with my elder brother about what you told me yesterday. The Go rojiu is anxious
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X FRIENDSHIP OR HATRED?
X FRIENDSHIP OR HATRED?
Six weeks had passed. It was in the evening after supper, when three samurai were sitting in the room overlooking the garden of Choshiu’s yashiki in Yedo. Guards were stationed within easy distance, so as to encircle the principal building, one room of which was occupied by Kano, in virtue of his influence within the clan. It was known that the Go rojiu had scattered more spies about the yashiki of the great southern clans. Kano, who, had arrived only that morning, had immediately ordered the ca
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XI CHOSHIU’S YASHIKI
XI CHOSHIU’S YASHIKI
The next morning had been a busy one for Kano. All the officers of the clan, entitled to the privilege, had called to pay their respects. It was eleven o’clock when the Commandant requested an audience. He was admitted, and reported that the evening before one of the younger samurai, returning home from a visit to a Tosa friend, had been grossly insulted by two men; that he had drawn his sword and had killed one and seriously wounded the other. The affair had taken place not far from the yashiki
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XII SONNO-JOI
XII SONNO-JOI
Kano rose slowly and left the room. When he returned after a brief absence, he was in kamishimo, [63] a white or hemp-colored dress used only upon the most solemn occasions. He sat down between the two friends, who, astonished as they felt, maintained the same impressive countenance. After thinking for a few minutes, which to Ito and Inouye seemed an age, he resumed:— “HE WAS IN KAMISHIMO.” “Gentlemen, Mr. Teraji and myself have given the barbarians a fair trial, and we have come to the conclusi
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XIII PLOTTING
XIII PLOTTING
Two men, dressed in kimono, haori, and hakama were sitting in one of the numerous temples which add to the natural beauty of the old imperial capital of Japan. The noon meal was over, but neither had an eye for the glorious landscape spread out before them. To the right and left a wave of mountains seemed to roll up in ever increasing height, until those in the background pierced the deep-blue sky. The hills about the city were clad in a mantle of green of every shade, from the dark needles of t
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XIV WITHIN THE PALACE
XIV WITHIN THE PALACE
In one of the kuge residences, not far from the palace occupied by the Tenshi sama, four men had just exchanged the protracted salutations prescribed by their rank. All knew that this very meeting would be considered as treason if it were known to the authorities at Yedo, and they felt, intuitively, that it would exercise a great influence upon their lives. Yet every face bore but one expression, that of placid contentment. Sanjo, as the highest in rank, spoke first:—“His Lordship, Karassu Maru
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XV UNDERGROUND RUMBLING
XV UNDERGROUND RUMBLING
The Choshiu Clan was by no means alone in taking the alarm at the admittance of foreigners. The Japanese, as a nation, possess a dual character, which was typified in their government. Just as the Gosho at Kyoto presented the highest degree of refinement attained by the nation, as well as the amiability, natural kindness, and light-heartedness of the people, so did the Camp at Yedo picture the sterner side of their character inculcated and developed to the utmost in the samurai. But the samurai
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XVI THE COURT AROUSED
XVI THE COURT AROUSED
The death of Ii Naosuke decided Kano to return to Kyoto with his friends, Ito and Inouye, as he said grimly “to help pull the ground from under the feet of the Court.” His acquaintance with Karassu Maru was of material assistance to him. This kugé was of a very impulsive temperament, with none of that self control, characteristic of the samurai. Generous to a fault, he was implacable as a foe. While he frightened some of the more timid kugé by the boldness of his speech, he attracted others. The
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XVII A CONFERENCE
XVII A CONFERENCE
A few days after the experience gained in the conflict, Kano decided to go to Kyoto. He announced his decision to the Council, where no opposition was made. Indeed, several members, Hattori among the number, declared that they too would go. They felt that the Clan had thrown down the gauntlet, and that there must be victory or annihilation. There had been a steady emigration of the young samurai, and even Ekichi had besought his father to let him go. It was decided that all should be recalled an
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XVIII FLIGHT
XVIII FLIGHT
Solemn was the scene, after Kano had concluded his address. He himself was prostrate once more, and remained in that position for more than five minutes, while not even the rustling of a silk hakama disturbed the silence. They sat like men of wax, immovable and serene. There was a rustling of silk behind the screen, it was removed, and a gentleman on whose haori appeared the imperial crest entered. All prostrated themselves, and he answered with a dignified bow. One of his attendants brought a c
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XIX BATTLE AND DEFEAT
XIX BATTLE AND DEFEAT
It was a sullen procession which filed out of Choshiu’s yashiki on that 30th of September, and it was well for the Tokugawa that no armed opposition was offered to them. Twelve hundred deeply insulted samurai could make sad havoc among any force, and these men hoped for the fray. They had marched in close ranks with seven norimono, well guarded between them. Kano was on horseback and had assumed command. He, too, had thought of the possibility of a conflict; but Ekichi had discovered that Satsum
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XX DRILLING
XX DRILLING
The severe defeats suffered by Choshiu had reduced the number of samurai of the clan. After thinking deeply upon the matter, Ito proposed to the Council a measure which met with the most strenuous opposition, and, being earnestly supported by Inouye, was at last adopted with many an ominous shake of the head. It was, namely, that the ranks should be recruited from among the young and strong members of the people. The older members of the council urged, not unnaturally, that the samurai would nev
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XXI DOWN WITH TOKUGAWA!
XXI DOWN WITH TOKUGAWA!
Great events were expected when the year 1868 dawned. Couriers arrived daily at Nagato from Kyoto, and our two friends, as well as the banished kuge were in a fever of expectation. Ekichi had asked and obtained furlough, and had left for Kyoto. He was greatly attached to Inouye, and frequently forestalled his wishes, but in a quiet, unobtrusive way. He was, moreover, so sedate in his habits, that there was no cause for watching him. However much Ito and Inouye would have done for him for the sak
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XXII CONCLUSION
XXII CONCLUSION
Thirty-seven years have passed since this story opened. It is in the month of May, 1895, and two men are sitting at a hibachi in an upper room in Shinagawa, formerly a suburb of Yedo, now a part of the city of Tokyo. The men were hale and hearty, but their gray hair, bordering on white, showed that they were beyond middle age. Their hair was cut after our fashion, but one wore a straggling beard, while the other’s snow-white moustache showed off to advantage his small mouth. The room where they
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NOTES
NOTES
Meanings and Pronunciation of Japanese Words used in the Text. 1. Pron. Day-shee-mah, little island. 2. Pron. Nang-ah-sah-kee. 3. Pron. Shoh-goon. General-in-chief. 4. Pron. Die-mee-yoh. This word means Great Name. 5. Pron. Sah-moo-rye. 6. Pron. Yed-doh, now Tokyo (pron. To-kee-yoh), or Eastern Capital. Yedo was the capital of Old Japan, from 1600 to 1868. 7. Pron. Kee-yoh-toh, the real capital of Old Japan. 8. Pron. Ten-shee Sah-mah. Lord of Heaven. 9. Pron. Toh-koo-ngah-wah. 10. Pron. Ee-yay-y
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