Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/541

of new Buddhist temples, and to appoint or depose Buddhist officials. The Bakufu Treasury or Shogunal Court had to contribute a fixed amount, in money and rice, towards the Imperial revenues, and for the maintenance of lords and dignitaries in the service of the Court at Kyoto.

All rights relating to foreign intercourse and military administration, the issue of coin and working of gold, silver or copper mines, and all matters concerning Buddhist or Shinto places of worship—generally all affairs of national importance were in the hands of the Bakufu. The jurisdiction of the capital and all other other places of consequence was also administered by the Bakufu through agents appointed as local Governors. Territory other than the above was, as has been stated, in the possession of retainers of the Tokugawa Clan, or in that of other feudal lords who had sworn fidelity to the dynasty. To these lords, who numbered over 270, was entrusted the internal administration of their domains, as if each were an independent State. The wives and children of such lords were, however, obliged by the Bakufu to reside in Yedo—now Tokyo—so that their presence in the capital might be security for the fidelity of the lords. The Bakufu in addition enforced the attendance of each lord at their Court in Yedo for a fixed period every year. In the event of any lord being guilty of grave default, his territory was forfeited. All territorial lords were under obligation to supply horses and arms in time of war, and funds for military expenditure in time of peace; while they were also liable for the expense of any engineering works on a large scale which the Bakufu might at any time desire to carry out. Finally, there was no restriction to the power enforced by the Bakufu over the feudal lords, subject always to the superior authority of the Tokugawa Clan.

Two important points in the legal system of the Tokugawa dynasty may be mentioned. The first is found in the severe restrictions in all matters of foreign intercourse imposed by the Tokugawa Dynasty from considerations affecting the welfare of the Government. To the same motive was due the prohibition of Christianity in the country.

The second deals with the system of social policy. In order to meet the evil of the absorption of large tracts of territory by a few of the more powerful clans and families, it has been previously shown that, in the former period, a system of allotment of land in equal portions came into force. But in the end this method proved a failure. Under the Tokugawa Dynasty, the people were divided into classes, such as Bushi (warriors), Heimin (common people), and the like. To the Bushi so many measures of rice were allowed, and they were prohibited from engaging in trade or any money-making occupation. On the