=1=. =Nippon= (N[)i]p-p[vo]n). This was the Japanese name for Japan, though foreigners had always confined or limited its use to the name of the largest island, or mainland, of the Japanese archipelago. To those who are familiar with things Japanese the sound of this name carries a special significance, for in it are wrapped the origin and growth of Japanese life, its religion, customs, traditions, and beliefs. Their history covers an unbroken reign, the longest of any progressive people now on earth, so far as we know, and their version of the Creation contains a principle that is pre-eminently theirs; for Shintoism knows only Japan. Their religion, like the Christian with Christians, is co-extensive with their history; each beginning the record, as do all others, at its separation from myth. =2=. =Daimyo= (d[=i]-m[)i]-[=o]-). The highest official in a province under the shogunate. By way of comparison, his position might be said to have corresponded to that of governor of a state in America, though his powers and duties were very dissimilar. The title originated under the mikadate, but from necessity as well as policy the daimyos generally became allied with the shogunate, hence in fact a part of it. =3=. =Shogun= (sh[=o]-g[)u]n). The official head of the shogunate (one of the dual sides, or heads, of the Japanese government) which was established in the twelfth century, and lasted until abolished in 1868. From the beginning of recorded Japan until the twelfth century the mikado was the sole ruler, both spiritual and temporal, and during the latter part of his reign, as such, the shogun existed, but only as an inferior: the commander-in-chief of the mikado's armies. Thus intrenched behind the military forces the shogun became enabled to enlarge his powers, and finally forcibly made the office hereditary, and himself secure in the material rule of the empire. Satisfied with temporal supremacy the shogunate never attempted to encroach upon the mikado's spiritual distinction, as ever held by the people. Nor was it alone policy that so long prompted a continuance of this dual form of government, but it was the ruling spirit quite as much of the shogunate as of the people at large. This has been repeatedly denied--in fact, it has been denied that there ever was actually two heads of government--but the facts hardly justify any such conclusion. Brushing aside all technicalities, a brilliant and polite administration of upwards of a thousand years stands out in its dual capacity as distinctly as do the two sister planets, and if that is not sufficient to establish authenticity as such then man must be at a loss to comprehend what constitutes the right of recognition.