The engineer of the rank of Daisen,[1] Aratawi no Hirafu,[2] (XXV. 38.) Yamato no Aya no Atahe, mistakenly dug a canal which he led to Naniha and thereby distressed the people. Upon this some one presented a memorial of remonstrance, and the Emperor made a decree, saying:—"We unwisely gave ear to Hirafu's misrepresentations, and so dug this canal to no purpose. It is We who are to blame." That same day the work was discontinued.[3]
Winter, 10th month, 11th day. The Emperor made a progress to the hot baths of Arima. He was accompanied by the Oho-omi of the Right and Left, and by the other Ministers and Daibu.
12th month, last day. The Emperor returned from the hot baths and stayed in the temporary Palace of Muko.
On this day the Palace of the Prince Imperial took fire, to the great marvel of the people of that time.
In this year there were instituted caps of seven kinds and thirteen grades.
The first was called Shoku-kwan.[4] Of this there were two grades, the greater and the lesser. It was made of woven stuff, and embroidered on the borders. The colour of the clothing was in both cases dark purple.
The second was called Shu-kwan.[5] Of this there were two grades, the greater and the lesser. It was made of
- ↑ This rank was not introduced until later.
- ↑ It is the same person who is called above Hirafu, Yamato no Aya no Atahe, and below Hirafu, Aratawi no Atahe. A few lines further on, the Emperor speaks of him as Hirafu. The complete title Aratawi no Hirafu, Yamato no Aya no Atahe, corresponds pretty exactly to such an English description as "Edmund of Langley, Duke of York." Hirafu is the personal name corresponding to Edmund; Langley and Aratawi are names of places, the residences of the persons in question or their forefathers; Duke and Atahe are titles. Yamato no Aya is, however, the name of a community of artisans of presumed Chinese descent who were settled in Yamato, while York is a territorial designation, of which, it may be noted, there are plenty among the ancient Japanese nobility.
- ↑ I have myself in 1869 seen a canal in course of construction at Osaka, which cost many thousands of pounds, and which was ultimately abandoned as impracticable.
- ↑ i.e. woven-cap. No doubt some special fabric is meant, which it is now difficult to identify.
- ↑ Embroidered cap.
