Japan and the Japanese

REVENUES AND MONET. 53
pounds * Ten thousand kokf make a man-kokf, in which the revenues
c f the great princes are reckoned. The distinction of rank
was very strictly observed, being even ingrained into the language.!
Inferiors being seated on their heels, according to the Japanese
fashion, testified their respect for their superiors by laying tho
palms of their hands on the floor, and bending their bodies so .low
that their foreheads almost touched the ground, in which position
they remained for some seconds. This is called the kitu. The
superior responded by laying the palms of his hands upon his knees,
and nodding or bowing, more or less low, according to the rank of
the other party.
As to everything that required powers of analysis, or the capacity
of taking general views, the Portuguese missionaries were but poor
observers ; yet they could not but perceive in the Dairi the surviv--
jng shadow, and indeed, in the earlier days of the missions, some-
* It appears from Golownin that there are also smaller packages, of which
three m.-ike the large one. The price of rice varied, of course ; but Kampfer
gives five or sir taels of silver as the average value of the kokf. Titsingh
represents the kokf as corresponding to the gold kobany, the national coin
of the Japanese. The original kobatig weighed forty-seven konderiiis, or
rather more than our eagle ; but, till the year 1672, it passed in Japan as
equivalent to about six taels of silver. The present kobang contains only
half as much gold ; and yet, as compared with silver, is rated still higher.
The kobang is figured by llampfer as an oblong coin rounded at the ends, the
surface, on one hide, marked with four rows of indented lines, and bearing
at each end the arms or symbol of the Dairi, and between them a mark
allowing the value, and the signature of the master of the mint. The other
side was smooth, and had only the stamp of the inspector -general of gold and
silver money. Kiimpfer also figures the obani, which even in his time had become
very rare, similar to the kobang, but of ten times the weight and value.
A third gold coin was the itsibo, figured by Kampfer as an oblong square.
According to Thunburg, it was of the value of a quarter of the kobang. S.lver
passed by weight. The Japanese do not appear to have had any silver coins,
unless lumps of irregular shape and weight, but bearing certain marks and
stamps, were to be so considered. In ordinary retail transactions copper seni,
or 7ms, as the Chinese name was, were employed. They were round, with a
square hole in the middle, by which they were strung.
Somt were of doubla
size and value, and some of iron. For further information on the Japanesa
monetary system, and on the present state and value of the Japanese cin-.u-
,ting medium, see chapters xxv., xxxix., and xi/"i.
t See Appendix, note A