MIKADO, mA-kii'a (dap., Exalted Gate). Formerly the popular and official title of the Emperor of .la pun, occurring in poetry and his tory throughout the Whole range of dapanese lit erature. Though comparatively obsolete in the Japan of the twentieth century, the word has found a fixed and honored place in the English language and literature. The dynasty of the mikados is probably the oldest in the world, the present ruler, Mutsuhito (9.v.), being reckoned by some authors the 123d of the Imperial line, the first being dinunu-Tenno, who in the chronology began to reign MC. 660. I)escent is claimed from the gods that created heaven and earth. The origin of the line is lost in mythol ogy, and there is little or no historical founda tion for it before the fourth century. The first seventeen mikados, BA:. 660 to A.D. 399, are said to have died at ages ranging front 100 to 141 years. The average reign in the whole line is twenty years. Each mikado has a personal MUM., 110 family name. nor is the name of a mikado ever repeated. Each has also a posthu M0115 title. by \Odell he is known in history.
Seven of the mikados were women. The mikado's person is sacred and inviolable. and he is the fountain of all authority and the centre of all government and history.
MIKA'NIA(Neu-Lat.. named in honor of Mikan, at Bohemian botanist of the nine teenth century). A genus of plants of the nat ural order Compositte, nearly allied to Eupa torium (q.v.). The heads are four-tlowered, and have four involneral scales. I/ikanfo offieina/is is a Brazilian species, with erect stem, and heart shaped leaves, abounding in a bitter principle and an aromatic oil. reputed useful in medicine. alnara and .11ikunin cordifolin (twining herbs), also natives of the warm parts of South America, are among the plants which have acquired a high reputation—deserved or undeserved—for the cure of snake bites. The former is remarkable for the large indigo-blue spots on the tinder side of its ovate leaves. scundens. sontetimes called climbing hempweed, is a native of the United States, grow ing in moist soils from New England to Texas.