history of japan - Library

for his purpose was merely to reproduce the legends that
were most famous in the Japan of his time. His volume has
become a classic, and it is well worthy of the distinction, for
no other single book has succeeded in conveying a sense
of the real social and moral atmosphere of Tokugawa
Japan so thoroughly and effectually as Mr. Mitford's
perennially interesting volume has done.
[2] This incident has been previously referred to more than
once in this present volume. I have no recollection of ever
having heard of it before, and have not only failed to find
any reference to it in such authorities as are at my disposal
but inquiry among the most qualified Japanese literates in
London has only shown that their knowledge of it is on a par
with my own.---J. H. L.
[3] The Tokugawa jurists asserted that the duty of assuming
the vendetta was partly answerable for the severity of the
penal code. When a man was sentenced to death for any,
and especially for a political, offence it was only prudent to
see to it that there should be no subsequent risk from the
Avenger of Blood. Hence, it was common to exterminate
the whole household of the condemned man.
[1] For Hosokawa vide Vol. I, p. 625, and for Akechi, V ol. II,
pp. 176-81, both of this work.---J. H. L.
[1] According to certain authorities the man-slayer even
then could not be assailed with impunity within the precincts