Page:Nihongi by Aston volume 2.djvu/370

Rh Summer, 4th month, 5th day. All persons with sentences of not more than lesser banishment were pardoned.

13th day. Worship was paid to the great Abstinence Deity of Hirose and to the Wind-Gods of Tatsuta.

20th day. Maro, Takamuku no Omi, of Lower Shōkin rank, was sent as Chief Envoy to Silla, and Tsuno no Omi, of Lower Shōsen rank, as Junior Envoy.

Intercalary 4th month, 5th day. The Emperor made a decree, saying:—"We have resolved to hold an inspection in the ninth month of next year. We therefore prescribe the conduct and the state of the public functionaries."

A further edict was made, as follows:—"In a government, military matters are the essential thing. All civil and military officials should therefore sedulously practise the use of arms and riding on horseback. Be careful to provide an adequate supply of horses, weapons, and articles of personal costume. Those who have horses shall be made cavalry soldiers, those who have none shall be infantry soldiers. Both shall receive training. Let no obstacle be thrown in the way of their assembling for this purpose. If any person disobeys this edict, if he does not provide a horse and weapons, or if his costume is defective, all such persons, from Princes of the Blood down to Ministers, shall be fined. Those from the rank of Daisen down who deserve to be fined shall be fined: those who deserve flogging shall be flogged. But if by diligent practice they succeed in learning their duties, they shall have their punishment diminished by two degrees, even in the case of those guilty of capital crimes. Anyone, however, who purposely offends in reliance on his own cleverness is not included among those eligible for pardon."

A further edict was made as follows:—"As to the clothing of both men and women, it is left to the wearers' option whether they have susotsuki or not, and also ties or tassels.