[1] It should always be remembered that the historic account of Japan before the fifth century A. D., must be allowed a large latitude in regard to its events and their dates. [2] Called the "_Dai-Nihon Komon-sho_" and the "_Dai-Nihon Shi-ryō_." CONTENTS PART I FROM THE FOUNDING OF THE EMPIRE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FEUDAL RÉGIME. 660 B. C.-1186 A. D. CHAPTER PAGE I. THE MYTHICAL AGE 3 II. THE BEGINNING OF THE EMPIRE. 660 B. C.-192 A. D. 6 III. RELATIONS WITH KOREA AND CHINA. 192-645 A. D. 12 IV. THE TAIKWA REFORM. 645-708 A. D. 22 V. THE NARA EPOCH. 710-794 A. D. 31 VI. THE HEI-AN EPOCH. 794-1186 A. D. 38 PART II THE FEUDAL AGES. 1186-1868 VII. THE KAMAKURA GOVERNMENT. 1186-1339 65 VIII. THE TEMPORARY RESTORATION OF IMPERIAL POWER. 1339-1393 83 IX. THE MUROMACHI PERIOD. 1393-1573 92 X. INTERNAL PEACE AND EXTERNAL WAR. 1573-1603 109 XI. THE FOUNDATION OF THE EDO GOVERNMENT. 1603-1651 122 XII. THE DECLINE OF THE EDO GOVERNMENT. 1651-1837 140 XIII. THE FALL OF THE EDO GOVERNMENT. 1837-1868 155 PART III THE NEW JAPAN. 1868-1893 XIV. INTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1868-1893 173 XV. FOREIGN RELATIONS. 1868-1893 188 PART IV APPENDIX. 1893- XVI. THE CONSTITUTION IN THEORY AND IN PRACTICE. 1893-1906 199 XVII. PARTIES AND POLITICS. 1893-1906 213 XVIII. ECONOMIC PROGRESS. 1893-1906 242 XIX. THE CHINO-JAPANESE WAR. 1894-1895 252 XX. JAPAN AND RUSSIA IN KOREA AND MANCHURIA. 1893-1904 275 XXI. THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR AND ITS AFTERMATH. 1904-. 303 BIBLIOGRAPHY 331 INDEX 337 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS GENERALS OF THE LATE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR (Photogravure) _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE AINOS WORSHIPING 28 ABDUCTION OF GOSHIRAKAWA (_in color_) 60 THE INVASION BY THE MONGOL TARTARS 76 THE PROCESSION OF FEUDAL LORDS 124 A PICNIC ON THE ASUKA HILL IN THE FLOWERY SEASON 156 TEXT MAPS