"What should he do to be able to give the best possible description?
"He will proceed by elimination.
"The material is neither red nor green; orange and violet must be set aside, as well as all the subordinate shades.
"It has a dull appearance, hence, it is gray; unless…. And here mental activity comes into play and will suggest to him that gray is composed of black and white.
"He will then be sure to form a judgment which will not be spoiled by falsity, if he declares that the material is a mixture of black and white.
"Later, by drawing nearer, he will be able to analyze the designs and to convince himself of their respective form and color, but by deducing that the material was made up of the mixture of two colors he will have come as near as possible to the truth:
"Deduction never prejudges; it is based on facts; only on things accomplished; it unfolds the teaching that we ought to obtain as a result."
Again the Shogun recommends to us the union of thoughts and the continuous examination of past incidents in the practise of deductions.
"If on entering a room," said he, "we are at times confused, it happens also that we correct this impression after a more attentive examination.
"The gilding is of inferior quality; the materials are of cotton, the paintings ordinary, and the mattings coarse.