323 See Chamberlain's _Things j.a.panese_, 1892, p. 300.

324 Adams' _History of j.a.pan_, vol. ii., p. 126. _American Diplomatic Correspondence_, May 30, 1868.

325 Iyenaga's _Const.i.tutional Development of j.a.pan_, p. 33.

326 See the despatch of Sir Harry Parkes, _British State Papers_, j.a.pan, 1870.

327 See Iyenaga's _Const.i.tutional Development of j.a.pan_, p. 35.

328 See _British State Papers_, 1870, j.a.pan.

329 A translation of this memorial will be found in the _British State Papers_, 1870, j.a.pan; also cited in Adams' _History of j.a.pan_, vol.

ii., p. 181.

330 See an a.n.a.lysis of the daimyos who joined in this memorial in _British State Papers_, 1870, j.a.pan.

331 See _British State Papers_, 1870, j.a.pan.

332 See Prince Azuki's _Memorial_.

333 See Kido's Original _Memorial_.

334 See Mounsey's _Satsuma Rebellion_, pp. 247, 248.

_ 335 Treaties and Conventions between j.a.pan and Other Powers_, Tokyo, 1864, p. 646.

_ 336 Treaties and Conventions between j.a.pan and Other Powers_, Tokyo, 1884, p. 171.

337 This castle was built by Kato Kiyomasa after his return from the Korean war. It still stands, being one of the most notable castles of j.a.pan.

338 See p. 47.

339 See p. 380.

340 This able doc.u.ment was prepared by Count Ito Hirob.u.mi. An official translation was published at Yokohama in 1889.

341 In the official list Jingo is not reckoned, and the time of her reign is counted with that of her son and successor.

342 From _j.a.panese Chronological Tables_, by William Bramsen, 1880.

The system of counting from year-periods (_nengo_) was introduced from China. These periods of j.a.panese history do not correspond to the reigns of the emperors. A new one was chosen whenever it was deemed necessary to commemorate an auspicious or ward off a malign event. By a notification issued in 1872 it was announced that hereafter the year-period should be changed but once during the reign of an emperor. The current period, _Meiji_ (Enlightened Peace), will therefore continue during the reign of the present emperor.

The numbers in the second column of this table indicate the years as counted from the founding of the empire by Jimmu Tenno. According to the official chronology this occurred B.C. 660.

343 Translated from the chronology of the shoguns in _Mittheilungen der deutschen Gesellschaft fur Natur und Volkerkunde Ostasiens_, Heft 3, 1873.

344 The translation of these laws of Shotoku Taishi was furnished by Mr.

Tsuji Shinji, late vice-minister of state for education, and by Mr.

Matsumoto k.u.mpei.