Japan and the Japanese

CHAPTER XI.
EYENV? MEANWHILE IN JAPAN. DOWNFALL OF NOBTJNANGA. ACCESSION Of
FAXIBA, AFTERWARDS KNOWN A9 CAMBUCUNDONO, AND, FINALLY, AS TAIKO-
8AMA. EDICT AGAINST THE JESUITS. RETURN OF THE AMBASSADORS.
A. D. 1582-1586.
WHILE the ambassadors were on their way to Europe, great
changes had taken place in the Japanese islands. A few months after
they had sailed from Nagasaki, Aquichi, a favorite general of Nobunanga's,
had marched from Miakotojoin Faxiba, another favorite
general, employed in prosecuting the war against Naugato. The stern
severity of Nobunanga had rendered him very unpopular, of which
Aquichi took advantage to turn about and attack him, left as he
was at Miako almost without troops. Nobunanga, thus betrayed
and surprised, having no other resource, set fire to his palace, and
perished in it, June 15, 1580, with his eldest son. His second son,
overwhelmed by this disaster, went mad, and in that condition set
fire to his father's patrimonial palace at Anzuquiama, thus kindling
a conflagration which consumed almost the entire city, including a
splendid temple, which Nobunanga had lately erected there, and in
which, suspending all other worship by edict, he had required divine
honors to be paid to a stone graven with his arms* and other
devices. To the missionaries, who had all along counted upon
making a convert of Nobunanga, this step had caused no less horror
and they found in it a ready explanation of the sud-
than surprise ;
den ruin which had overtaken himself and his family, especially as
his eldest son had been the first to pay the required worship.
* The princes and nobles of Japan, nnd indeed most private individuals,
have certain devices embroidered on their gowns, &c., which the Portuguese
and the missionaries compaid to the armorial bearings of Europe.