Of the size of the cities, the splendour of the churches, and the magnificence of other buildings

This chapter presents an account, by the Japanese travellers, of the size of the cities, the splendour of the churches, and the magnificence of other buildings in Europe. The travellers describe the buildings and the most famous places in the cities of Europe, and attribute the magnificence of those buildings not only to the opulence of Europe, but also to its tranquillity. They talk about the furnishings of the temples and monasteries, which are generally in use in religious services, in which so much gold, silver, silk and other precious stuffs are consumed that in this so magnificent ornamentation the truth of the Christian religion is in some sense splendidly manifest. The travellers also feel the lack of the ancient splendour and magnificence of Japanese buildings.