In Kioto also dwelt the poets, novelists, historians, grammarians, writers, and the purists, whose dicta were laws. By them were written the great bulk of the classic literature, embracing poetry, drama, fiction, history, philosophy, etiquette, and the numerous diaries and works on travel in China, Korean, and the remote provinces of the country, and the books called “Kagami” (“mirrors”) of the times, now so interesting to the antiquarian student.
Occasionally nobles or court ladies would leave the luxury of the city, and take up their abode in a castle, tower, pagoda, or temple room, or on some mountain overlooking Lake Biwa, the sea, or the Yodo River, or the plains of Yamato; and amidst its inspiring scenery, with tiny table, ink-stone and brush, pen some prose epic or romance, that has since become an immortal classic.
Almost every mansion of the nobles had its “looking-room,” or “chamber of inspiring view,”, whence to gaze upon the landscape or marine scenery. Rooms set apart for the aesthetic pleasure still form a feature of the house of nearly every modern native of means. On many a coigne of vantage may be seen also the summer-houses or rustic booths, where gather pleasure parties or picnics.
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From General Nelson A. Miles
Thrilling Stories of The Russian-Japanese War, 1904
