Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/575

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JAPAN (Language and Literature)
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tary by Nakahara Akito, has also been preserved under the title of Kingioku Shochiusho (date of compilation, 1207). It may here be remarked that the Japanese codes were from the earliest times based on those of the Chinese, and it was on the laws of the Tang dynasty (619–907) that the above mentioned Yoro Ritsu were modelled. The Ling (pronounced Rio in Japanese) of the chronological period called Kaiyuen (713–'41) are supposed to have been the source of the Yoro Rio. This code consists of 30 chapters divided into 10 books, and has been preserved complete in the commentary prepared in 833 called the Rio no Gige. An excellent annotated edition of the first eight chapters was published in 1864 by Kondo Yoshiki, under the title of Hiochiu Rio no Gige Kohon; it is stated that the remainder is in existence in a manuscript form. A work of equal interest is the Ruijiu Sandai Kaku, containing collections of decrees issued between the years 701 and 907, with commentaries thereon. The first, called Konin Kaku, in 10 books, dates from 819; the second, or Joguan Kaku, was formed in 868, in 12 books; and the third in 907, with the title of Yengi Kaku, in 10 books and a supplement. Of the whole 32 books fragments of only 6 have survived, which were rescued from oblivion in the year 1266. Besides the kaku, compilations of the shiki were made at each of these periods. The first two, named Konin Shiki and Joguan Shiki, have not come down to us, all that was of any value in them having been preserved in the Yengi Shiki. This compilation occupied ten years in formation, and was completed in 927. Of its 50 books, the first 10 are devoted to matters coming under the cognizance of the Jingikuan, or "office of the gods," and contain directions as to the ceremonies to be observed at certain festivals, the whole of the Norito or liturgies, and a complete list of the Shinto temples then existing in different parts of Japan. The remaining 40 books treat of the miscellaneous duties of the other departments of the government. It appears to have been first printed in 1648. The Gishiki, in 10 books, defines the rites performed at certain festivals, the coronation ceremony, and the general observances of the court throughout the year. The date and author are unknown. The Dairi Shiki, or "Court Ceremonies," is the title of a work in 3 books compiled by Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu early in the 9th century. Of the Hoso Ruiriu, in 230 books, only two have survived; while nine remain of the Seiji Yoriaku, an equally voluminous work on administrative law. The Saiban Shiyosho, in one book, is a manual of the laws of Tempio (729–'48) and Konin (810–'23), by Sakanoye Akimoto (1138–1210). The Hokuzan Sho, in 11 books, by the Dainagon Kinto (966–1041), is said to be the best authority on the court ceremonies since the reign of Ichijo Tenno (986–1011); but it is surpassed in comprehensiveness by the Goka no Shidai, in 21 books, by Oye no Masafusa (1041–1111). The first 11 books treat of the court business during the whole year; the 12th and 13th of Shinto and Buddhist religious festivals; the 14th and 15th of the coronation; the 16th of imperial progresses; the 17th of the mikado's coming of age, his beginning to learn to write, his marriage, the inauguration of the heir apparent and his education, and the selection of princes of the blood; the 18th of proclamations, the alteration of the chronological period (nengo), and other similar matters; the 19th of archery, horse racing, &c.; the 20th of certain festivals, the appointments of ministers of state, the education of the mikado's sons, &c.; and the 21st of miscellaneous proceedings of the court. This, as well as the Shingai Sho (1439), in 6 books, by the Sadaijin Sanehiro, are continually quoted by the historian Arai Hakuseki in his Tokushi Yoron, which is a sufficient guarantee of their value. The Giogi Shikimoku, in one book, by the priest Giogi, who died in 749, contains land regulations, sumptuary laws, an estimate of the population, and of the amount of rice and other cereals produced annually at that period. The Joyei Shikimoku, also called Go Seibai Shikimoku, in one book, was composed under the direction of Hojo Yasutoki, prime minister of the Kamakura shoguns, and is the code of that period. In later times it has been much used as a copy book for children, but it is of great assistance to the historian as a means of understanding the system of administration which was established by the military power after the decadence of the mikados. A good edition, with a commentary, was prepared in 1534 by Sei Soyu. A very interesting book is the Nitchiu Gioji, by the mikado Go-Daigo (1319–'39), which details the sovereign's manner of daily life and the duties of the palace attendants. There is also a large class of books called Nenjiu Gioji, which describe the festivals and ceremonies of the court for the whole year. The Seito-tsu, in 13 books, by Ito Nagatane, explains the ancient institutions of Japan by copious reference to those of China, on which they were for the most part based. Its preface is dated 1724. One of the works on offices most widely known is the Shokugen Sho of Kitabatake Chikafusa (1293–1359). It was composed in 1341, without reference to any other work, in bad Chinese, and has been illustrated again and again by various commentators. The best edition is that of Kondo Yoshiki, a Choshiu samurai, entitled Hiochiu Shokugen Sho Kohon, in 6 volumes; the preface is dated 1854. The Kuanshoku Biko, in 8 volumes (1695), is the most complete account of the constitution of the court and government yet produced, and is one of the few works of the kind not written in Chinese. The Reigi Ruiten, in 510 books, is a work compiled by order of the second prince of Mito, from about 200 private records of noble families, and is concerned with the ceremonies and etiquette of the mi-