Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 1.djvu/85

 disgusting character were committed not infrequently, and that no veto is known to have been pronounced against them.

There was, in fact, no system of philosophy nor any code of ethics. India had Sidathra, China had Confucius, but neither in ancient, mediæval, nor modern time has Japan produced a great teacher of morality. She has had plenty of brilliant interpreters, plenty of profound modifiers, but no conspicuous originator.

The right of primogeniture was not recognised in the age here spoken of. A father chose his heir at will. Generally the choice fell on his youngest son, for reasons which become plain when the marital customs of the time are considered. The conception of marriage was practically limited to cohabitation. A husband incurred no obligations or responsibilities towards his wife. It is related that the first emperor (Jimmu), chancing to meet a band of seven maidens, made immediate proposals that one of them should become his mate. The girl agreed, and the sovereign passed the night at her house, a visit which he thenceforth became entitled to repeat whenever he pleased. That was wedlock. To be married involved no change in a woman's life except the liability to receive visits from her husband. As to the man, there was absolutely no duty of fidelity on his side. He might form as many different unions as fancy prompted. The children were brought up by the mother, and it