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made such improvements in the modes of writing as those above stated, Japan would have had by this time great credit for her literature, which is essentially her own, and the great boon of having a good system of writing different from the cumbrous system still employed. That this was not to be so was owing to circumstances which prevented the development of this kind of writing, but I will not touch upon it at any great length.

The light literature—that is to say, romances, novels, and such-like—of the Heian period is written in the native classical style. It is mostly by female hands. As the study of Chinese was thought to be more useful, and often a more masculine and higher attainment, most men seem to have gone in that direction, having left the task of preserving the native style in the hands of women.

‘Genji Monogatari’ and ‘Makura-no-Soshi’ are generally considered the best of the kind, though they differ in style and purport. I will give below some extracts from the ‘Genji Monogatari,’ which, though rather lengthy, will afford a fair idea of both the argumentative and descriptive style of the native literature of the period.

(A) This is put into the mouth of a character in the story):‘Trying to show off small accomplishments is a characteristic of thoughtless people, and that without distinction of sex. This is in the highest degree unpleasant. As to the ladies, it may not, indeed, be necessary to be thorough masters of “the three great histories” and “the five classical texts”; yet they ought not to be destitute of some knowledge of both public and private affairs. That knowledge, however, can be imperceptibly acquired without much study, which, though not profound, will enable them to talk pleasantly with their friends. How contemptible, nevertheless, that would seem if this made them vain! The “mana” style and overglaring phrases are not meant for them. If they make use of them, the world will only speak of them, “Would that she remembered that she was only a woman!” and they would only incur the reproach of being pedants, as is the case with many ladies, especially with those of the upper classes. Again, while they should not be altogether deficient in versification, they should never be slaves to it, nor allow themselves to be betrayed into using strange quotations, the only consequence of which would be that they would appear bold when reticence is required, and abstracted when practical duties are to be attended to. How utterly inappropriate, for instance, it would be on the May festival if, while the attention of all present is concentrated on the solemnity of the occasion, fair ladies were to be mentally wandering on their own versicular imaginations about the iris; or if, again, on the