in the Cyclus Tsutsnoto Mi, (of Christ 1689) on the twenty-first of January; the third of Genrokf, in the Cyclus Kano Je Uma, (of Christ 1690) on the Ninth of February; the fourth of Genrokf, in the Cyclus Kanoto Fitsuse (of Christ 1691) on the twenty-first of January; the fifth of Genrokf, in the Cyclus Midsno Je Sar, (of Christ 1692) on the seventeenth of February; and the sixth of Genrokf, (of Christ 1693) on the fifth of February. The Japanese have a Leap-year every other or third year, or seven Leap-years in nineteen common

years.

Chap. III.

Of the Ecclesiastical Hereditary Emperors in particular, and first of those, who govern'd from the beginning of the Japanese Monarchy till our Saviour's Nativity.

1690.

AM now come to the History and Suc- The beginning
cession of the Ecclesiastical hereditary how mention'd
of new Reigns,
Monarchs of Japan, but before I begin in their
the same, I must not omit to take notice, Histories.
that in their Historical and Chrono-

logical Books a new Reign begins always

with a new Year. Tho' a new Emperor, as it frequently happens, becomes possess'd of the Throne, by death or resignation, several months before the Year is expir'd, yet all the remaining part of it is added to the Reign of his Predecessor. This is done, as they pretend, to avoid all Confusion in their Chronological Tables; for in their Historical Remarks upon the same they constantly mention what Month, and what Day of the Month every Mikaddo took possession of the Throne.

which this

In writing this History of the Japanese Monarchy I Japanese consulted two Chronicles written and publish'd in Japan, Authors, from wherein very little is said of the Lives of the Emperors, History was their Virtues and Vices, and the political Part of their taken. Government; but their Names, their Descent and Birth,

J. I

273

S

1690.

Dai I.

their Succession, the Time of their Reign, the Names of the Nengo's instituted by them, and how many Years they subsisted, the Place of their Residence and the like, are mention'd with more accuracy, with many more remarkable occurrencies, as they happen'd under each Reign, such as for instance: The building and consecrating of considerable Sintos or Budsdo Temples; the Birth and Death of great Heroes, eminent Priests and other illustrious Persons; the Rise and Fall of great Ministers at Court; Rebellions, Wars, Fires, appearings of Comets, new Stars never seen before, and strange Meteors; Earthquakes, Famines, Plagues and other epidemical Diseases; the coming over of new Idols, Priests, People, or Things from foreign Countries; the publication of Books of Note; the Institution and Celebration of Festival-days in Honour of their Gods, Saints and Heroes; the time, when some of their Idols were cut or carv'd, or carried from one Temple to another, with the Names of the Work-men; the Appearances of their Gods and Spirits, the wonderful Discovery of their Idols, great Things spoke and foretold, and Miracles wrought by them; as also the most remarkable things which from time to time happen'd in China. Of all these, and many more mention'd in these two Japanese Authors, I have extracted only, what was necessary to my present purpose, or what was thought would not prove unworthy the Readers Attention.

SYN MU, and with his full Title Syn Mu ten Oo, SYN MU. founded the Japanese Monarchy in the 58th year of the 35th Chinese Cyclus, when Teikwo, or according to the Chinese pronunciation, Hoyvam was already enter'd the eighth year of his Reign, in the year before Christ 660, and the 78th of his Age.

He was before that time call'd Jwa Fikono Mikotto, and was the fourth and youngest of his Brothers, who preceeded him in the Government, but liv'd so inconsiderable a time, and reign'd in such an obscure manner, that the Foundation of the Empire, with the Title of

Nin O, that is, the Supreme of all Men, is by all Japanese
Writers unanimously attributed to him, as to their Julius
Cæsar.

He civiliz❜d the Inhabitants of Japan, which was then call'd Akitsussima, introduc'd Chronology among them, dividing the Time into Years, Months and Days, and made a thorough Reformation in the Laws and Government of the Country.

In the 59th Year of his Reign, which was the 601 before Christ, 346 Years after the Death of Siaka, on the 14th Day of the ninth Month, was born in China, in the Province Sokokf, the great Philosopher Roosi. He was already fourscore and one Years old, and grey, when his Mother was brought to bed of him, for which reason he was call'd Roosi, which signifies an Old Child, this word being compos'd of Roo, Old, and Si, a Child. The Soul of Kassobosats, Siaka's Companion and chief Disciple, is believ'd to have by Transmigration dwelt in him; and yet his Doctrine is entirely different from that of Kassobatz. Siaka taught his Followers the Immortality of our Souls, the reward of our actions in a future Life, and how necessary the Practice of Virtue in this Life, is to all who aim at a State of Bliss in the next. Roosi, on the contrary, absolutely denied these important Truths, and maintain'd that all our Happiness consists in living long and well. In pursuance of these Notions he endeavour'd to find out by Alchymy an universal Medicine, which could prolong his Life, if not render him immortal. The same attempt was made afterwards by his Disciples, and the Adherents of his Sect, with as good Success, as our European Philosophers can boast to have had in their searches after the Philosopher's Stone. He liv'd 84 Years.

About this Time, in the Year before Christ 600, foreign Idols were first brought into Japan, and worship'd in Khumano.

Synmu reign'd 79 Years, and having secur'd the Throne to his Posterity, he died in the 157th Year of his Age. With his Reign begins the Japanese Aera Nin O.

1690.

1690.

Dai II.

SUI SEI, Synmu's third Son, succeeded his Father SUI SEI. in the 80th Year of his Reign, the 580th before Christ, and the 51st of his Age.

In the 30th Year of his Reign, the 399th after the Death of Siaka, and the 551st before our Saviour's Nativity, on the fourth Day of the eleventh Month, was born in China, in the Province of Rokokf, the illustrious Philosopher KOOSI, and according to the Chinese Cumfusu, Birth of who is by our European Writers call'd Confutius. The Confutius. Chinese Writers mention, that at the time of his Birth a Music was heard in Heaven, that the Stars came down nearer to the Earth, and that when the Child was wash'd, two Dragons attended him; that Nature had mark'd his Forehead with a small eminence, or pimple, like that of the Emperor Siun, that his Face resembled that of the Emperor Gio, and that in short he had all the marks of a future Sesin, that is, a Person of incomparable Understanding and profound Learning. His Stature, when he came of Age, was majestick and noble, for he was 9. Sak and 6. Sun high. His writings, chiefly such as relate to moral Philosophy, are not unknown in Europe. By his writings wherein he display'd all his learning for the universal benefit of mankind, by his virtuous and exemplary life, and by the great number of his disciples, who were never less than 3000, he attain'd to such an eminent degree of fame and reputation among his own Countrymen, as well as in Japan, that after his death Temples were erected to his memory, wherein a profound adoration and almost divine worship is paid him to this day. He died in the 74th. year of his age.

Dai III. ANNEI.

Sui Sei reign'd thirty three and liv'd eighty four years. His Son ANNEI succeeded him in the year of Synmu 113, before Christ 548, and the twentieth of his age.

In the thirty second year of his reign, which was the year before Christ 516, was born in China, in the Province Rokokf, Ganquai, a very learned Man, and an eminent disciple of Confutius. It is said of him, as something remarkable, that in the eighteenth year of his