THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN.

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The influence of that ancient myth remains. The belief that Japan is the land of the gods, that the emperor is a child of the sun, and that the people are all of divine descent naturally results in a feeling of importance and superiority which will not be outgrown in a few generations.

This is the outline of early Japanese mythology, which has developed into a kind of religion, known as Shinto. The word is of Chinese origin, but it is obvious that the religious system which it designates must have developed many centuries before any trace of Chinese influence was felt in Japan. Since then, however, Shinto has changed so much in its ceremonial and external character that it is now scarcely to be found in its original simplicity in any part of Japan. Indeed, it is only by the study of the oldest books that we have come to know fairly well what pure Shinto was.

Different religions were introduced from time to time. First came the teachings of Confucius, which spread rapidly and were received with greatest favor throughout Japan. At the present day they still constitute an essential part of a Japanese educa­tion. Then came a few Buddhist images and sutras from Korea, in the year 552 A. D. But it was not until the famous priest, Kobo Daishi, in the ninth century, ingeniously identified the various Buddhist saints with the Shinto deities that the new faith became popular and finally almost supplanted the other. Then arose different schools of Shinto, and now we find the two religions borrowing from each other, until it is sometimes con­fusing to decide whether a certain temple is Buddhistic or Shinto, or both.

The oldest Japanese book known is the Ko-ji-ki (“ Record of Ancient Matters”); it dates from the year 711 A. D. Authentic historical records began in the year 400 A. D.

The earliest mention of Japan by European travelers is by Marco Polo, who from 1272 to 1298 was in the far East. Marco Polo did not visit the country, but he was told fabulous stories of the great wealth of gold in the island Kingdom of Zipangu.

When Columbus sailed, August 3, 1492, on his venturesome voyage of discovery, his purpose was first to visit China, and on his return to search for the famous Zipangu. He discovered America instead.

Japan was not discovered by the Portuguese, the pioneers in navigation in the Eastern seas, until America had been known for half a century. By the merest acci­dent, Mendez Pinto, with two of his countrymen, landed in Kinshiu from a piratical junk in the year 1542.

The Japanese are a most charming and interesting people to live among. They are small in stature, with black eyes and hair. The types of features of the higher and lower classes are distinctly marked. The fine oval face with prominent, well chiseled features, oblique eyes and high, narrow forehead, distinguish the upper class; while the round face and less oblique eyes pertain to the lower.

Their dress is picturesque, and, generally speaking, convenient. The kimono , or principal garment, is a long, loose gown, open in front from neck to feet and held to the form by a gridle, or obi , which is usually made of very rich material fourteen inches or more in width and four and a half yards in length, made of two thicknesses of cloth, with a layer of wadding between them. This is wound several times around the waist and tied at the back, thus forming quite a turnure. Unlike their Western sis­ters, they wear the bustle on the outside. The long, flowing sleeves of the kimono below the elbow serve as pockets, in which, among other things, they carry soft paper to use as a substitute for handkerchiefs.

The dress of men, women and children differs but slightly, there being some variation in length, cut and choice of materials. The kimono of women fits more closely and comes down a little longer than a man’s, and in full dress forms a train which is stiffened with wadding. The obi or belt of the men is much narrower. In place of socks they wear what are called tabi , made of cotton cloth, usually white, precisely like a low shoe, except that there is a special thumb to receive the great toe. The soles are of heavy duck. When a Japanese goes into the street he puts on a straw sandal or wooden clog. The sandals or clogs are dropped at the entrance of a house, and only the tabi are worn on the clean matted floors. The common coolie in summer wears only a loin cloth.