Japan and the Japanese

54 JAPAN. A. D. 1550.
prince who bore the title of Kubo-Sama Sama meaning lord,
and Kubo general or commander. This title the Portuguese ren-
dered into Emperor, and it was almost precisely equivalent to the
original sense of the Imperator of the Romans, though
still more
exactly corresponding to Cromwell's title of Lord-yeneral.
This Kubo-Sama, or Siogun, as he was otherwise called, waa
acknowledged by all the other princes as in some respect their superior
and head. The other rulers of provinces bore the title of
Souyo or Jacata, which the Portuguese rendered by the term Kiny.
Reserving to themselves, as their personal domain, a good half of
the whole extent of their territories, these chiefs divided the rest
among certain great vassals, called Tono, Co?iisu, or Kounidaimio.
who were bound to military service in proportion to the extent of
the lands which they held ; which lands, after reserving a portion
for their private domain, these nobles distributed in their turn to
other inferior lords, called Joriki, who held of them upon similai
conditions of military service, and who had still beneath them, upon
the same footing, a class of military vassals and tenants, called
Dosiu. and corresponding to the men-at-arms of the feudal times
of Europe. The actual cultivators of the lands as had also been.
and still to a considerable extent was, the case in feudal Europe
were in the condition of serfs.
Thus it happened, that, as in feudal Europe, so in Japan, great
armies might be very suddenly raised ; and war being the chief
employment of the superior classes, and the only occupation, that
of the priesthood excepted, esteemed honorable, the whole country
was in a constant state of turbulence and commotion.
All the classes above enumerated, except the last, enjoyed tlv3
highly-prized honor of wearing two swords. One sword was worn
by certain inferior officials ; but merchants, traders and artisans
were confounded, as to this matter, with the peasants, not being per-
mitted to wear any.
The revenue of the princes and other proprie-
tors was, and still is, reckoned in koku or kokf of rice, each of
three sacks, or bales, each bale containing (according to Titsingh)
thirty-three and one third gantings the universal Japanese mcas
ure for all articles, liquid or dry and weighing from eighty-two
to eighty-three katties, or somewhat more than a hundred of our