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I 
THE JAPANESE ORNAMENT. 
espite the fact that Japanese art had its origin in China, it nevertheless
represents a decided individuality peculiar to itself. This is due to the
less strict manner in which they divided the work. The Japanese Ornamentation
is not so conventional as the Chinese, for they directed their work more
after nature than the latter. The characteristic expression of the ancient
Chinese epochs was also further weakened by the fact that the Japanese did
not hesitate to introduce other and newer elements into their work, much
in the same fashion as once happened to the Doric in Greece by overloading
its Ornament. While Chinese Art remains to-day at the same point where it
stood thousands of years ago, the Japanese have always striven, especially
in recent years, to perfect their products of their art 
 The actor Tomedjuro in accordance with foreign models. 
Nakamura in the role of the The oldest Japanese art-epoch dates 
Kaishi. Painted by Tori-i-Kigount 
    - from the Heroic Age, that is, from about 
 I7~O (Brng). 
  the year 960 before Christ to the year 278 
after Christ, at which period the Daymios, together with their feudal Lords
the Samurai, reigned over the country, until finally the whole empire became
united under the Mikado. 
 During the second epoch, from 278 to i io8 B. C., Buddhism made its appearance,
and was constituted the State religion in 624 B. C., thus introducing Chinese
and Indian influences. The power of the Mikado was considerably weakened
by the Shogun (Imperial Chancellor) during