1690.

the first of the now reigning secular Monarchs. It was
about that time the supreme and unlimited authority of
the Dairi's, or Ecclesiastical Hereditary Emperors, which
they had fully enjoy'd till then, begun to decline. The
Princes of the Empire, govern'd by ambition, jealousy
and envy, abandon'd by degrees the duty and allegiance
they ow'd to their Sovereign, assumed an absolute power
in the government of their Dominions and Principalities,
enter'd into alliances for their own defence, and carried on
war one against another, to revenge what injuries they
did, or fancied to have received. In this disposition of
affairs Joritomo was sent by the Emperor, at the head of
a numerous army, and with an absolute power to adjust
the differences, and to terminate the wars between the
Princes of the Empire. It is a known Maxim, supported
by the experience of all ages, that men entrusted with
power seldom care to part with it. This was the case of
Joritomo, who gladly embracing
embracing so favourable an oppor-
tunity, as was put into his hands, espous'd the interest of
that of the contending parties, which he thought the most
likely to support his own, and by this means encreased
his power to that degree, as not only to arrogate to him-
self an absolute authority in the decision of all the secular
affairs of the Empire, but to leave to his Successors a
plausible pretext to claim the same. Thus the Power of
the Ecclesiastical Hereditary Emperors receiv'd at first a
fatal shock by the disobedience and quarrels of the Princes
of the Empire, and was at last entirely taken from them
by the usurpation of their Crown Generals, tho' without
prejudice to their supreme Dignity, Rank, Holiness, and
some other Rights and Prerogatives, which do not pro-
perly relate to the government of the secular affairs of
the Empire, as will appear more fully in the following
Chapter.

Kon Je reign'd fourteen years.

Chap. V.

Of the Ecclesiastical Hereditary Emperors, who liv'd after Joritomo, to the present time.

1690.

ON JE was succeeded by his elder Brother Dai GOSIIRAKAWA, or Sijrakawa the LXXVII. second, the Emperor To Ba's fourth Son, KAWA. in the year of Synmu 1816, of Christ

1156.

After his accession to the Throne he appointed the Nengo Foogien, which

subsisted three years.

In the first year of his reign, on the eleventh day of the seventh month, Ssi In revolted against the Emperor. This Rebellion occasion'd a bloody and pernicious War, which from the time of its beginning is call'd, Foogienno midarri, that is, the desolation of the time Foogien, and is by this name described at large in their Histories.

In the third year of his reign, in the eighth month, happened a violent Earthquake.

GOSIIRA

After a short reign of three years he resign'd the Crown to his Son. Twelve years after he enter'd into religious Orders, caus'd himself to be shaved, and took the name of Joossin. He died in the forty third of his age. NIDSIOO, Gosijrakawa's eldest Son, was sixteen Dai years old, when his Father resigned the Crown to him, LXXVIII. in the year of Synmu 1819, of Christ 1159.

year

The Nengo's appointed during his reign were Feitsi of one, Jeiraku of one, Oofo of two, Tsioquan of two, and Jeeman of one year.

In the first year of his reign, the two great Generals Nobu Jori, and Jositomo, Joritomo's Father, both Princes of the blood, rebell'd against the Emperor. This Rebellion, and the War occasioned thereby, are call'd from the time when they begun, and are describ'd in their Histories, by the name of Feitsi no midarri, or the Desolation of the time Feitsi. Two years after Jositomo was kill'd

NIDSIOO.

Dai

1690.

LXXIX.
ROKU
DSIOO.

Dai LXXX.

TAKA-
KURA.

Dai

LXXXI.

AN TOKU.

in the Province Owari, and his Son Joritomo was thereupon banish'd to Idsu.

In the fifth year of his reign, and the first of the Nengo Tsioquan, a poor Woman was brought to bed of three children, each of which had two heads and four feet.

He reign'd 7 years, and died 23 years old.

He was succeeded by his eldest son ROKU DSJOO in the year of Synmu 1826, of Christ 1166.

He appointed the Nengo Ninjani, which subsisted three years.

He reign'd but three years, and died thirteen years old.

He was succeeded by TAKAKURA, the Emperor Gosijrakawa's third Son, in the year of Synmu 1829, of Christ 1169, and the ninth of his Age.

He was married to a daughter of Kijomori, who was mention'd above, under the reign of the Emperor To Ba.

He appointed the Nengo's Kavoo of two, Sioun of four, Angen of two, and Dsijsso of four years.

In the third year of his reign, his Father was shav'd and turn'd Monk, taking the name of Joossin.

In the fourth year of his reign, on the twenty-third day of the first month, a great part of the capital city and residence of the Emperor was laid in ashes.

In the seventh year the Small-pox was very fatal all over the Empire.

In the eleventh year the Emperor remov'd his court and residence to Kuwara.

In the twelfth year of his reign, and the last of the Nengo Dsijsso, the ennemies of Joritomo were defeated in the Province Isju, and Jorimassa was kill'd with all his family.

He reign'd twelve years, and died twenty one years old.

His eldest Son AN TOKU, born by Kjiomori's daughter, succeeded him in the year of Synmu 1841, of Christ 1181.

He appointed the Nengo's Joowa of one, and Siuje of two years.

In the first year of his reign, there was a great famine in Japan, occasion'd both by the sterility of the crop, and the still raging wars. The same year died Kijomori, the Emperor's Grandfather, after the manner above related. The same year General Kadsuwara left the Feki Party, and went over to Joritomo, who was then call'd Tiojenoski. This Kadsuwara was of a very mean extraction, but by his courage and heroic actions he rais'd himself to be one of the most considerable Princes of the Empire. The same year was born Jori Ije, Joritomo's Son and his Successor in the command of the armies and the government of secular affairs.

After a short reign of three years Antoku was forc'd to resign the Crown.

1690.

He was succeeded by GO TO BA, or Toba the second, Dai the Emperor Takakura's fourth Son, in the year of LXXXII. Synmu 1844, of Christ 1184.

He appointed the Nengo's Genriaku of one, Buanitz of five, and Kenkiu of nine years.

In the first year of his reign died Joosnaga, a great General, of whose heroic actions frequent mention is made in the History of the Wars with the Feki's.

In the third year of his reign, his Predecessor Antoku being pursued by his enemies, was unhappily drown'd in the Western Seas. He was after his death call'd Antokuten O, having after his resignation taken the name of Sen Tei.

About that time died Josinaga, Joritomo's Son in law. In the sixth year of his reign was kill'd Jositzne, another very eminent Commander. His death was follow'd by that of Fidefira his Lieutenant-General, and the extirpation of his whole Family.

In the eleventh year Joritomo went to court to pay his respects to the Mikaddo, by whom he was honour'd with the title of Sei Seogun, which hath been ever since given to the Crown-Generals and Secular Monarchs.

GO TO BA.

Dai

1690.

LXXXIII.

In the fourteenth year of his reign, a Horse with nine feet was sent to court from the Island Awadsi, as a present to the Emperor.

He reign'd fifteen years, and resign'd the Crown to his eldest Son.

He died sixty years old.

TSUTSI MIKADDO, (Mikaddo is here the Emperor's name) was but three years old, when he came to the crown MIKADDO by his Father's resignation, in the year of Synmu 1859,

TSUTSI.

Dai

of Christ 1199.

The Nengo's appointed during his reign were, Seotzi of two, Kennin of three, Genkiu of two, Kenje of one, and Soojen of four years.

In the first year of his reign died Joritomo, Crowngeneral and the first Secular Monarch. His Son Jori Ije succeeded him in the command of the armies, and was five years after his Father's death by the Dairi honour'd with the title of Sei Seogun. He was kill'd two years after.

Tsutsi Mikaddo reign'd twelve years, and resign'd the crown to his younger brother. He liv'd 37 years.

SIUNTOKU his younger Brother, and the Emperor LXXXIV. Gotoba's third Son, succeeded him in the year of Synmu 1871, of Christ 1211.

SIUN

TOKU.

The Nengo's appointed during his reign were, Genriaku of two, Genpo of six, and Seokiu of three years.

In the fourth year of his reign, and the second of the Nengo Genpo, died Foonen Seonin, founder of the Sect of Seodosju.

In the sixth year of his reign, and the fourth of the said Nengo, the first Fune's, or Men of War, were built in Japan by order of Sonnetomo, Joritomo's second Son, who endeavour'd by force of arms to maintain himself in the succession to his Father's and Brother's employ

ments.

In the ninth year of his reign, on the twenty-second day of the second month, the two stately Temples Kiomidz and Giwon were burnt down.