Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 1.djvu/283

 —Japanese antiquarians assert that both men and women of rank wore long veils in early times, and were equally averse to exposing their complexions.  —Another evidence of the fidelity with which Chinese fashions were copied.  —It has been alleged that by striking the palms together when about to worship, a Japanese intends to attract the attention of the deity. The explanation is fanciful and groundless.  —It is built with logs of wood, hexagonal in section, laid horizontally, so that the walls present a deeply corrugated appearance. Though repaired from time to time, this storehouse retains the exact form given to it by its architects nearly twelve centuries ago.  —Out of this rule grew the appellation shinzo (new building) still commonly applied to Japanese wives in the middle classes.  —Mr. Basil H. Chamberlain, in the admirable preface to his "Classical Poetry of the Japanese," explains this point with great clearness, and M. D. E. Aston, in his exhaustive treatise on "Japanese Literature," shows why rhyme would scarcely be possible to a poet using the Japanese language, namely, that as all Japanese words end in one of the five vowels, constant iteration of the same sound would be inevitable.  —This is illustrated by the fact that the Japanese use the same word (uta) to express "song and poem."  —A stringed instrument played with both hands; the fingers of the right hand being armed with ivory tips, and the fingers of the left being used to press the strings. <section end="Note 33" /> <section begin="Note 34" />—"Fujiwara" signifies "Wistaria plain." The name was conferred by the sovereign on Kamatari in recognition of his services. <section end="Note 34" /> <section begin="Note 35" />—The consort of the late Emperor Kōmei (1847-66) was a Fujiwara, and the bride of the present Prince Imperial is also a Fujiwara. <section end="Note 35" /> <section begin="Note 36" />—Kyōtō continued to be the Imperial capital during 1,074 years, until the Meiji Restoration of 1867, when the Court was transferred to Yedo (now Tōkyō). Seventy- seven Emperors held their courts successively in Kyōtō. <section end="Note 36" />