Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 1.djvu/86

 was possible for one household to remain in entire ignorance of another's existence. Mutual knowledge generally signified feuds and fighting, for the father's favour was naturally bestowed on the children of his latest affection, and the elder branches of his offspring frequently rebelled against such partiality. Another result of the system was marriages between half-brothers and half-sisters, or between uncles and nieces. These unions were not condemned by the moral code of the time. Indeed, the existence of any relationship was sometimes unknown to the parties themselves, a man's wives and families in different places not necessarily having any mutual acquaintance. The only restriction recognised was that children of the same mother must not intermarry. It is easy to see that under these circumstances the ties of consanguinity did not bind men very closely. To be sons of the same father carried no obligation of friendship or sympathy. Often in the annals of the innumerable civil wars that disturbed Japan the reader is shocked by deeds of vengeance, treachery, or ambitious truculence that violate all the dictates of natural affection. The origin of these displays of callousness or cruelty must be sought in the ancient system which condemned a wife to perform the functions of a mere animal, and deprived her children of any claim on their father's love and protection.

"Houses" have been spoken of above, but a reservation is necessary: the upper classes lived