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competition. Many of the pictures were highly admirable, and it was most difficult to make any preference between them. For instance, if there was produced by one party a roll of “The Seasons,” which was the masterpiece of some old master, on selected subjects, there was produced also, by the other party, a roll of sketches on paper, which were scarcely inferior to, and more ornamented with flourishing than the ancient works, in spite of the necessary limitation of space which generally makes the wide expanse of scenery almost too difficult to express. Thus the disputes on both sides were very warm.

‘Meanwhile the Imperial Mother (the Princess Wistaria) also came into the saloon, pushing aside the sliding screen of the breakfast-chamber. The criticisms still continued, in which Genji made, now and then, suggestive remarks. Before all was finished the shades of evening began to fall on them. There remained on the right one more roll, when the roll of “Suma” was produced on the left. It made Gon-Chiunagon slightly embarrassed. The last roll of the right was, of course, a selected one, but it had several disadvantages in comparison with that of “Suma.” The sketches on this roll had been done by Genji with great pains and time. They were illustrations of different bays and shores. They were most skilfully executed, and carried away the minds of the spectators to the actual spots. On them illustrative remarks were written, sometimes in the shape of a diary, occasionally mingled with poetical effusions, in style both grave and easy. These made a great impression on the Emperor and on everyone present; and, finally, owing to this roll, the left was decided to have won the victory.’

In the famous Makura-no-soshi we see the following, as quoted and rendered into English by Mr. Aston:

‘On the sliding doors of the northern front of the Mikado’s private apartments there are painted fearful pictures of creatures that live in the wild ocean, some with long arms, others with long legs. When the doors of the ante-chamber are open we can always see them.’

This will show that pictorial art was made use of for chamber decoration. The ideal of pictures entertained by the gentry of this period may be well illustrated by the following extract from the ‘Genji Monogatari.’ It is contained in a chapter where different kinds of female characters are discussed, and therefore it is only discussed incidentally; but it will give a fair idea, and so I give the extract in full:

‘Again, therefore, he took up the conversation, and said: “Call to your mind affairs in general, and judge of them. Is it not always true that reality and sincerity are to be preferred to