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Moriya, o-muraji of the Mononobe, and Katsumi, muraji of the Nakatomi, objected resolutely. They asked why the Kami of the country should be abandoned in a moment of crisis. But Umako, o-omi of the Soga, said: "It is our duty to obey the Imperial commands and to give relief to his Majesty. Who will dare to suggest contumely?" Buddhist priests were then summoned to the palace.

It has been shown above that Soga no Iname converted one of his houses into a temple to receive the Buddhist image sent by Myong in 552, and that his son, Umako, erected a temple on the east of his residence to enshrine a stone image of Miroku, in 584. But these two edifices partook largely of the nature of private worship.

Thus Buddhism recovered its footing, but the enmity between the o-muraji and the o-omi grew more implacable than ever. They insulted each other, even at the obsequies of the sovereign, and an occasion alone was needed to convert their anger into an appeal to arms. *The Emperor Kimmei was the elder brother-in-law of Soga no Umako.

Shotoku and Umako advanced again to the attack; Moriya was shot down; his family and followers fled, were put to the sword or sent into slavery, and all his property was confiscated. An incident of this campaign illustrates the character of the Japanese soldier as revealed in the pages of subsequent history: a character whose prominent traits were dauntless courage and romantic sympathy.

The Emperor Yomei was the nephew of Soga no Umako. *The Emperor Bidatsu was a nephew of Umako. The Emperor Sushun was a nephew of Umako. *The Empress Suiko was a niece of Umako. Prince Shotoku was son-in-law of Umako. *Prince Anahobe was a nephew of Umako.

So omnipotent was the Soga chief that his murderous envoy was not even questioned. He received open thanks from his employer and might have risen to high office had he not debauched a daughter of the o-omi. Then Umako caused him to be hung from a tree and made a target of his body, charging him with having taken the Emperor's life. "I knew only that there was an o-omi," retorted the man.

This custom of dismembering and distributing the remains was practised in Korea until the time, at the close of the nineteenth century, when the peninsula came under Japanese protection. It was never customary in Japan. The o-omi, Umako, also erected a temple called Hoko-ji in Asuka near Kara.

The last months of Shotoku's life were devoted to compiling, in concert with the o-omi Umako, "a history of the Emperors; a history of the country, and the original record of the omi, the muraji, the tomo no miyatsuko, the kuni no miyatsuko, the 180 be, and the free subjects." This, the first Japanese historical work, was completed in the year 620.

The roles which the five uji mentioned above acted in subsequent history deserve to be studied, and will therefore be briefly set down here. This uji had for founder Koze no Ogara. Thereafter, the heads of the uji occupied prominent positions under successive sovereigns. Soga no Ishikawa founded this uji. Iname's son, Umako, and the latter's son, Yemishi, will be much heard of hereafter.

The caps were made of sarcenet, a distinctive colour for each grade, the cap being gathered upon the crown in the shape of a bag with a border attached. The three highest ranks of all were not included in this category. *In China to-day the distinguishing mark is a button of varying material fastened on the top of the cap. In the year 626, the omnipotent Soga chief, the o-omi Umako, died.