erial Tomb of the White Bird. Thus ended the
career of the leading Japanese hero of romance. His story sounds like a
fairy-tale, though it may well be that Yamato-Dake was a real person and
that many of the things told of him actually occurred.

_JINGU, THE AMAZON OF JAPAN._

To-day the women of Japan are kept in seclusion and take no part in
affairs of state. This does not seem to have been always the case. In
the far past, we are told, women often rose to posts of honor and
dignity, and some even filled the mikado's throne. Nor is this all. To a
woman is given the glory of the greatest event in the history of ancient
Japan, the conquest of Corea, from which land civilization, literature,
and a new religion subsequently came to the island realm.

The name of this Japanese heroine was Okinaga Tarashi hime, but she is
best known under the title of Jingu, or "warlike deed." The character
given her in tradition is an attractive one, combining beauty, piety,
intelligence, energy, and valor. The waves of the sea, the perils of the
battle-field, and the toils or terrors of war alike failed to fill the
soul of this heroine with fear, and the gods marched with her and aided
her in her enterprises. Great as she was in herself, the Japanese give
her higher honor still, as the mother of their god of war.

This imperial Amazon was the wife of the mikado Chinai, who in 193 A.D.
set out at the head of his army for Kiushiu, a rebellion having broken
out at Kumaso, in that island. His courageous wife took ship and
followed him to the seat of war. On her voyage thither she stopped at
one of the islands of the Inland Sea to offer worship to the gods. And
as she did so the voice of the deity of the shrine came to her ears.

"Why do you trouble yourself to conquer Kumaso?" spoke the mysterious
voice. "It is but a poor and barren spot, not worth your labor nor the
work of your army. There is a country, larger and richer by far, a land
as lovely as the face of a fair virgin, dazzlingly bright with gold,
silver, and rare colors, and rich with treasures of every kind. Such a
noble region is Shiraki [Corea]. Continue to worship me, and this rich
land shall be yours without the shedding of blood. As for Kumaso, my
help and the glory of your conquest will cause it to yield."

On joining the emperor, Jingu repeated to him the words of the god, but
she found in him a doubting listener. There was a high mountain near the
camp, and to th