A Fantasy of Far Japan Part 1

A Fantasy of Far j.a.pan.

by Baron Kencho Suyematsu.

PREFACE

In the following pages I have depicted certain j.a.panese ideals and notions, as well as some historical facts which seemed likely to interest those of the sympathetic Western public who may be inclined to study the mental side of j.a.pan.

The dialogues are founded upon actual conversations, not indeed always in exactly the same phraseology, nor under exactly the same circ.u.mstances, but something very like. The questions put into the mouths of the characters in the book are the kind of questions which are being constantly put to me, and my answers are always on the same lines; so that my readers may regard the book as a serious treatise so far as the materials are concerned. This is the reason why I have written this book in a light, conversational style, and not in the form of an ordinary critical or expository treatise. Besides, I thought that more lucidity of exposition and more penetration into the inner views could be achieved by writing in the way I have done.

The period to which these conversations relate is chiefly the summer of the present year, 1905, and the greater part of this book was written before peace was concluded, and therefore there may be occasionally some dicta which sound somewhat polemic. On that point I can request my readers to show leniency.

I have appended to the dialogues a few papers on various subjects. They deal with subjects germane to those treated in the body of the work, and it is hoped that they will afford the reader first aid in acquiring information relative to the a.n.a.lysis of j.a.panese social life which has here, however imperfectly, been attempted.

I may add a few words. In publishing this volume, I am not in the least degree actuated by a desire to exalt my country unduly,--still less to boast about her achievements. My sole object has been to show j.a.pan as she is, and to claim Occidental sympathy to such a degree as she may deserve.

K.S.

PARIS, _November 1905_.

A FANTASY OF FAR j.a.pAN:

SUMMER DREAM DIALOGUES

I

The issue of the war--Some Forecasts--English and French papers --Political situation in the summer of 1905--Beaconsfield--j.a.panese fictions and their plots--Some similarities between the customs of Greece, Rome, and j.a.pan--Love stories--A j.a.panese love tale--Custom of adoption--_Jane Eyre_ and j.a.pan--j.a.panese art--j.a.panese gardening--Full description of marriage ceremonies--Preliminary inquiries--Description of the rooms, and decorations--b.u.t.terflies --The banquet--Wedding presents--Position of the women in j.a.pan --j.a.panese mothers and wives--A Samurai mother ill.u.s.trated by a drama--Lays of Ancient Rome and Commandant Hirose--j.a.panese notions of pardon and forgiving--Trip to j.a.pan

It was a cool summer afternoon in a quiet hotel in a quiet part of Paris. I threw myself lazily into an easy-chair on the balcony and began reading _Le Journal_. I was somewhat tired and soon felt myself drowsily wandering into dreamland as the breeze lulled me soothingly. I felt myself, as it were, wafted through the air. Soon I found myself in the company of a friend of mine and his wife, though I do not know how all that came about. We pa.s.sed together through the Bois de Boulogne, now amidst tall, green forests, now along the turfy sh.o.r.es of mirror-like lakes. We arrived at last before the entrance of a large house. It was the residence of the Duke of Fairfield. His wife, the d.u.c.h.ess of Fairfield, is a star in Parisian society and a great hostess. Her salon is periodically filled with politicians, savants, great artists, and the most fashionable ladies and belles of the day. Her forte is politics, and indeed she is no mean politician in her way. It was in that lady's drawing-room that we in no time found ourselves.

--'I am so glad that you were able to come here to-day,' said the d.u.c.h.ess. 'I was very anxious to make your acquaintance, and so asked your friend to bring you. I have known you long by "interviews" and articles. We all read them with delight. They are read on the Continent far more than you imagine.'

--'Don't mention it, madam,' said I. 'It is a great honour, I feel, to have access here. As to my articles, I am highly flattered to hear they have any interest for you.'

There were already many people in the salon. I was naturally introduced to some of the ladies and gentlemen present. In a few moments I found myself talking with the d.u.c.h.ess on some questions of the day.

--She said, 'Some people foresaw, even before the war had began, what the issue would be. General Penetrator, for instance, I learned a good deal from him,--and also from my own observations.'

--'May I add,' said I, 'General Foresight also? I have heard some incidents about him quite lately. But I am glad to see you take so much interest in our affairs.'

--'No!' said the d.u.c.h.ess, 'they are not exclusively your affairs. We are also much concerned in the matter, as you know. But let us stop a moment. Baron,--won't you have a cup of tea? Do take one.'

--'If you please.'

The d.u.c.h.ess had already risen and was proceeding towards a table where the tea was laid out. I stood up also and followed her, saying, 'Allow me, madam, I will help myself, I'm troubling you too much'; but the d.u.c.h.ess taking no notice of my words prepared a cup of tea and gave it to me where I stood; she was a.s.sisted by one of her daughters who offered me some cakes. I noticed that the tea was poured out of a pot made in the shape of a beautiful waterfowl, its beak forming the spout.

--'It is very artistic,' I said, pointing to the tea-pot.

--'It is j.a.panese ware,' said the d.u.c.h.ess. 'This kind of ware is, I suppose, only made for the foreign markets, and not used in j.a.pan, and so probably you have not seen it before. We think it rather nice. You see our taste has little depth.'

--'Well! madam, I must apologise to you for carelessly expressing approbation of an article coming from my own country. I would not have done so if I had carefully examined it and had made sure that it was j.a.panese, but it certainly looks charming.'

We sat down again and resumed our conversation.

--'Do you read our papers much?' said the d.u.c.h.ess.

--'Not much, madam, only those parts which interest me particularly--the war, for instance.'

--'Then you speak French, of course,' said she.

--'Only a very, very little, madam, and unless spoken very slowly, I do not understand at all,' I replied. 'People in society generally do not care to take that trouble.'

--'Very true, indeed,' she said, 'one often forgets that one is speaking to a foreigner while actually doing so. But what do you think of our papers?'

--'They seem generally good,' I answered, 'though not perhaps as good as those of England, for there, far more money is spent in obtaining good items of news from all parts of the world. But this is too trite, I think, to speak to you about.'

--'I am sorry for it,' she said, 'but I must say that most of our journals appear not to have done sufficient justice to your country, in regard to the present war.'

--'To be frank, madam, I must say that they generally were not quite fair. I am afraid they have done more harm than good to the country which they meant to befriend, for if they had not given so much encouragement to that country, much misfortune which has overtaken it might have been evaded or at least lessened. It may have been only due to a pacing mistake. The press is much better now, and is beginning to represent more truthfully the sentiment of the people, I think.'

--'It is very true,' she said; 'at the same time, I must say that the aggressive att.i.tude of that country could not have been created by our journals, however partial they may have been. In that respect, there may be another country which is more responsible.'

All the while other guests and members of the house were carrying on conversation in a very lively manner, in twos, threes, or fours.

--'But, baron, what do you think of the present political situation?'

she said. 'What is the real sentiment of England?'

--'You must know such things better than I. To me, however, it seems England is perfectly sincere in her good wishes towards France. She has no _arriere pensee_.'

--'But some people say she wants war with our neighbour,' said she.

--'No! decidedly not,' I said. 'I know there are many people in England who have no confidence in German policy; but "want war," "provoke war,"

decidedly not!'

--'That's my opinion too,' said she quickly.

Hereupon a few gentlemen joined in our discussion. We went over the international situation of the day from many points, with many hypotheses and conjectures. We thought the discussion both interesting and beneficial; the trend of the conversation naturally turned upon the bearing of the international relationship in the Far East. A rumour recently circulated was mentioned by one of those present, to the effect that German policy was to draw France into some sort of 'combination'

similar to that which took place after the Sino-j.a.panese war. A gentleman who is senator and an ex-minister said that it was, of course, necessary to watch what the Premier was going to do, but that he trusted the Premier would not be so imprudent. If ever, he added, he were to be drawn into such an unjust and imprudent action, he would at once revolt all statesmen, indeed all the French public, and, moreover, the rumour was more likely unfounded than true. To this opinion all present expressed an a.s.sent.

At this point some more visitors arrived, and the d.u.c.h.ess left us to welcome them. I also rose, and slowly went into the next room, which was the study of the duke, but its sliding door was opened and formed with the drawing-room one long salon. The other daughter--the d.u.c.h.ess has two daughters only, and no sons--was there, together with a few young folk.