Corea: The Hermit Nation

Corea: The Hermit Nation

In the year 1871, while living at Fukui, in the province of Echizen, Japan, I spent a few days at Tsuruga and Mikuni, by the sea which separates Japan and Corea. Like the Saxon shore of early Britain, the coast of Echizen had been in primeval times the landing-place of rovers, immigrants, and adventurers from the continental shore opposite. Here, at Tsuruga, Corean envoys had landed on their way to the mikados court. In the temple near by were shrines dedicated to the Corean Prince of Mimana, and to Jingu Kg, Ojin, and Taknouchi, whose names in Japanese traditions are associated with The Treasure-land of the West. Across the bay hung a sweet-toned bell, said to have been cast in Corea in A.D. 647; in which traditionuntested by chemistrydeclared there was much gold. Among the hills not far away, nestled the little village of Awotabi (Green Nook), settled centuries ago by paper-makers, and visited a millenium ago by tribute-bearers, from the neighboring peninsula; and famous for producing the crinkled paper on which the diplomatic correspondence between the two nations was written. Some of the first families in Echizen were proud of their descent from Ch-sen, while in the villages, where dwelt the Eta, or social outcasts, I beheld the descendants of Corean prisoners of war. Everywhere the finger of tradition pointed westward across the waters to the Asian mainland, and the whole region was eloquent of kin beyond sea. Birds and animals, fruits and falcons, vegetables and trees, farmers implements and the potters wheel, names in geography and things [x]in the arts, and doctrines and systems in religion were in some way connected with Corea. The thought often came to me as I walked within the moss-grown feudal castle wallsold in story, but then newly given up to schools of Western science and languageswhy should Corea be sealed and mysterious, when Japan, once a hermit, had opened her doors and come out into the worlds market-place? When would Coreas awakening come? As one diamond cuts another, why should not Ch-ka (Japan) open Ch-sen (Corea)? ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 67141
Author: Griffis, William Elliot
Release Date: Jan 10, 2022
Format: eBook
Language: English
Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons
Publication Date: 1911
Publisher Country: United States