Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 4.djvu/199

 where he passed, all fires to be extinguished, a large vessel of water to be placed before the gate of each building, fresh sand to be strewn on the road, and dogs and cats to be confined. Tsunayoshi (1680–1709), whose hysterical superstitions have been described in a previous chapter, dispensed with the rule about dogs and cats, but retained all the other ceremonies. On occasions of ordinary progresses the Shōgun's retinue was divided into forty-one groups, each composed of a fixed number of officers, men-at-arms, bearers of various weapons, banners, armour-chests, robe-boxes, umbrellas, chairs, tea and luncheon utensils, and other matters, and three steeds were led each by two grooms. But on special occasions, as a journey to Nikkō or Kyōtō, the retinue assumed very large dimensions, the feudal chiefs being obliged to contribute soldiers equal to one-half of the number for which they were liable in time of war. These processions and those of the great territorial nobles were splendid and imposing spectacles. They were observed by thousands of persons, though every spectator had to kneel with bowed head at the moment of the great personage's passing, and they contributed materially to the prosperity of the inns and stations along the main roads.

The reader is already familiar with the fact that in order to check foreign intercourse the third Tokugawa Shōgun, Iyemitsu, interdicted the building of any vessel over one hundred and