ABSTRACT

The Empire of Japan, the Nihon, Nippon, or Dai Nippon of its inhabitants, is the most easterly country of Asia, and stretches from 24 4' N. lat. to 51 N. Europe received the first intimation of the existence of Japan towards the end of the thirteenth century, through Marco Polo, who had been told in China fabulous stories of the great wealth of gold in the eastward-lying island-kingdom of Zipangu. The Japanese in their earlier separation, like so many other peoples, regarded their country as the centre and most important part of the world, though indeed of a limited world. According to ancient tradition the ruler of Japan, the Mikado, descends in a direct line from the sun-goddess Amaterasu, whose parents were the divine Isanagi and Isanami. The Japanese, indeed, then adds the name of the province or district by way of explanation, and speaks.