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EAST ASIA.
villages, which, by expanding in every direction, have gradually become united in
one city, while leaving here and there several open spaces occupied by gardens,
groves, and fields. There are no remarkable architectural monuments, although a
really imposing effect is produced by the cyclopean blocks of the castle walls,
relieved at intervals by kiosk-like towers, and at some points rising fully a hundred
feet above the broad and deep outer ditches. The yasiki, or palaces of the ancient
daimios, are low buildings walled round and adorned with carved wooden porches.
But the most curious and ornate structures are the Buddhist temples, of which
there are upwards of a thousand scattered over the city, and especially in the
Asakusa quarter, where is the temple of the Golden Dragon dedicated to the
Goddess Kwannon. This is at once the most frequented and the most venerable
for its historic memories, occupying as it does the islet where the first monuments
of Yedo rose above the surrounding swamps and waters. The neighbouring hills,
such as Siba in the south, and Uyeno in the north, tower above the vast sea of
houses and sacred edifices, and are themselves crowned with temples and tombs
notable for their rich wood carvings, elegant decorations, noble torii, or porches, and
enormous bells. Of the two museums recently erected on these hills, one contains
a natural history collection, the other Japanese artistic works, besides an ethno-
graphic exhibition of the greatest value for the study of the aborigines of Yeso
and the Kurile Islands. The surrounding parks, planted towards the end of the
sixteenth century, are amongst the finest in Japan, which is so rich in plantations
of magnificent timber. The cemeteries, one of which near Siba contains the tombs
and effigies of the forty-seven ronin, are also laid out as public grounds, shaded
with trees, and made bright and cheerful with flowering shrubs. Tokio has now
also its botanic garden, besides numerous nurseries and horticultural establishments,
but no public squares or free open spaces for popular gatherings. The people
having been formerly excluded from political life, the Japanese cities contained no
such meeting-places, the forum being useless in the absence of free citizens. But
the recent changes will necessarily require a corresponding modification in the
plan of the towns.
The above-mentioned ronin are the subject of a famous story highly character-
istic of the chivalrous period of Japanese histroy. Early in the year 1701 a
young noble named Asano Takumi no Kami having been appointed to entertain
the Mikado's envoy to the Shogun, happened to give offence to Kira Kodzuke no
Suke, an old gentleman learned in court ceremonies, who was his instructor in the
proper etiquette to be observed on this occasion. For some time he endured the
taunts of Kodzuke no Suke, but was at last so provoked that he could no longer
control his indignation, and attempted to kill his insulter with a dagger. This
occurred in the palace of the Shogun, where to draw a sword in anger was a capital
offence. Hence, although defeated in his attempt by the bystanders, Takumi no
Kami received orders to dispatch himself according to the usual harakiri fashion.
His castle of Ako was also confiscated, and his retainers were turned adrift into the
world, thus becoming ronin, or " masterless men." Amongst them was 0-ishi
.Kura no Suke, one of Takumi' s chief counsellors, who formed a league with others