New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-02

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iolloW1ng AesoElDeiea:
The knsWlodeo IL upchftecturo aiepIhyed
h : Japanese temple y shout - Grade -
that Displayed IN fhSfr hoaeas, Naeaivo-
nees i fhe 6rst chaTae terisaie ri their tem-
ples, and after that comes tbs color. IN
tho temples that We saw that wsre Of any
size, and ueod by the common people. vere
ebout sthe aaule. All voeo 1914 ahont
fifteen feet above the stone pavement by
which you reach them. and assembled to by
steps q stUno or wood. Their Length along
the front was about sixty lest, their depth
thirty, and their height about forty q Afty.
OF this HEIGHT. nearly tvo-thirds vas taken
mn by the 6Ied hin roof. from under vhich
projected hugo beams, sometimes arranged
IN tiors along the front, the lower ones
receding. sometimes simply used ct the
corners. These hcams and the front pillars,
together with the end faces Of the temples,
ero almost invariably painted red; but
what in our architecture would be called
the friese IVES usually oznamented with
wood earvings Of angels very sirenlike in
appearance, the drapery flowing backward
in such 8 wsy that It might readily pass for
fish's tail. But though there were speed
mems Of harpies and srions, saw NO sirens.
! Mounting the steps Of this temple; You
would Generally and yourself face to face
with . contribution box of about ton
capacity, tho top grated like . huge cage.
Whether this style Of contribution box il
used - hint, or because tho Japanese have
should Judge, from the preference given to it
by contributors), worth about one hundredth
Of Q cent, and can therefore afford to make
quite contribution, ~ far ~ appearances
are concerned. without taxing their purses
much. / could mot learn. This contribution
box usually stands outside Of the temple
proper. Within the railings beyond is the
polished mat floor, which il kept perfectly
clean, from the centre Of which rises the
usuallv eilded. Tinsel flowers hang around
him, and in front IL the table ON which burns
the inevitable Joeh stick, and upon the ends
of which lOtua flowers. symbolical of
longevity. cut in wood or cast in metal. are
supported in flower pots. The ceilings are
sometimes plain, sometimes painted. From
them depend huge lanterns and tinsel work.
Images Of. Josh, cut in wood, and varying
in IA from ina downward. fully reaIizin9
the notion Of Satan q portrayed bv our an.
cestors. arc arranged ON the sides of the
temple porchos. Drums of wood, to b
beaten bv the ahaven priests in their ne
liaious ceremonies. also hold q cOnspicuous
place. :
10 reach these temples Won enter 4 huge
red gateway, which appears like shallow
section of the temple, and pass along .
paved way to the temple steps, BY the side
Of which may usually be found stone
err wash their hands before service: |
These are the leading features Of their
temples and the more usual surroundings;
but they may be infinitely varied. Tho
grounds about some temples are 0rnAmented
with lighthouses like bronze lanterns and
vases to hold eight or ten gallons of water,
shaped like . lotus flower, also cast in
bronze. The carving, too, varies much In
richness, according to the temple. Tho
laid out, the trees being trained into solid,
masses of foliage Of various shapes. Often
two bandy-legged tigers, unacceptable,
but to be taken upon faith. share the
guardianship with the hide0ls horned
demons of red and green that guard either
side Of the entering gate.
Having previously seen nothing but lac
quer work to give as any notions Of the 70
fnement IN art Of which the japanese were
capable, we were BY no means prepared for
the beauty of detail OF the work that we
found at the tsmples Of Sheba at Yeddo.
In tho grounds about these temples the
TycO0ns have been buried, and each gener-
atiOh has We'd with its predecessors in em-
bellishing their t0mbs. As Q consequence
in these we have the finest specimens Of
decorative art Of which the Japanese are
capable. 1t is only within the last year or
two that foreigners have been able to gain
admission to these grounds, but eince the
MikadO has gained the upper hand, AZ q
sort of humiliation to the Tycoon, he has
thrown them all open.
In the majority of these tombs the ar
rapeement was the same and three-fOld.
First, and raised few steps from the
ground. there was an octagonal building of
abOut thirty feet in diameter, the outside
faces of which were carved in the forms of
birds and flowers, and gilded. Opening .
double door, also handsomely carved and
pilded. before YOU. u,Nn the snOw-white
mats. and held in q handsome gilt frame
turned toward the east, wac (if the temple
was Sintoo) the steel mirror, the emblem of
purity. In line with this building, and
raised by several more steps, was an in
closed space, the inclosing fence being
carved with the figures of birds and ami
mails, and Qilded. 0pening the.slouble doors
of this fence You passed under = little porch,
the ceiling Of which was coIored very beau
tifullv in the arabesoue style, and thence
into = second octagonal temple of about
the same size as the first, and SINH
larly ornamented without; opening the doors
of this, and removing your shoes, you step
upon beautifully white mats within, and
find yourself face 20 face with the nlausO-
leum which is supposed to contain the re-
mains of the Tycoon. This was usually
cvlindrical in shane. having q diameter Of
Three feet. and raised upon a lotus flower
cut in etone or bronze. The mausuleum
was. i'm some cases. of bronze: in Others of
red and black lacomer. In front of it was q
l.oc,,aro1 <ohla ,no<,u vb;.h s<Ood Jonan