The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-03-14
Japan and the Japanese.

S"PoA "HA NHS ~1RNANoN'
On Sunday evening the sth instant, the Rev - a
Gulick, Missionary Of the American Board to Japan
for several years past. occupied the pulpit Of the Fort
Street Church. and gave q brief but very interesting
sketch of the people and the country where he has
been laboring. Mr.. Guiek, we may observe. is Ha-
waiian born, a son Of the venerable Missionary the
Rev. p. J. Gulick. who arrived at these Islands ia
1923.
The lecture was illustrated 10y a large map Of ia
pan, or Nippon, as it is called by the natives. from
the largest OF the four islands which form the empire
Of the Mikado. The extent Of territory about equals
that of the British Islands. and the population Is
about the same as that Of Great Britain, having been
reported by a recent official census as amounting 60
81, 200, 900. The city Of Jeddo alone has 950. 900 In
habitants. While the people Of this great nation are
intelligent, educated in their way. skillful in the arts.
extremely initiative and eager TO learn from TIE West
ern nations, they are yet heathens in religion. There
are three religious beliefs or systems prevalent
among the Japanese--the sintoo. which may be
termed the ancient religion Of the country, and
which consists in the worship Of deided Kings, the
Confucian, which comes from the Chinese, Gas does
the letters and literature Of Japan and is made up
of moral precepts and philosophy; and the worship
Of Buddha, a wise man who fourishea some 400 years
before Christ This Last is the most widc-spread in
Japan, AID Buddhist temples are numerous all over
the country. dotting the hills, aud surrounded by
careful preserved groves.
The Roman Catholics many years ngo had n -four
ishing mission in Japan, with 10000 converts. but
the Government becoming suspicious and jealous OF
their growing influence, the priests were banished
and the Christians prosecuted without mercy untIit
appeared that there were none left. But ia these
latter days of free intercourse. Catholicism has again
rav;,oI Na.I a.. 49, Al. = A. -
commerce. the old persecution Of the Catholic Chris
tians was recommended, 1000 Of them having been
imprisoned on account Of their religion. in the year
1871 however, I~wakura, the uncle Of the Mikado,
was dispatched with q numerous retinue to America
and Europe. to make treaties with the Western ma
tons, and in almost every country he was met with
the inquiry. :" Why does japan continue to prosecute
the believers in Christianity - The result was that
the japanese Government abandoned the persecution
policy, and orders were given for the release from
prison Of the 1000 Catholics, Of whom however 900
had died in the meantime. japanese prisons are
wretched affairs, being simply wooden cages. A
japanese teacher Of Mr.. Gulick, was suddenly and
without trial taken away from his house at night, and
with his wife disappeared and Gas unheard Of for a
year and a half. when it t%ranspired that he had been
imprisoned for Christian practices, he having been
engaged ia copying the New Testament ia japanese.
He died in prison, but his wife survived md was
liberated. Now that the ban Of persecution Is re-
moved, the missionaries are encouraged TO expect in
good time a favorable result Of their labors in Japan.
although foreigners are not as yet permitted 20 reside
in the interior, but are strictly lim.gd to the xix treaty
ports. At Osaka, where Mr.. Gulick is stationed, a
Church has been gathered, numbering some thirty
members. Thus the light Of Christianity is begin
ming to dawn upon the b~enighted millions Of Japan.
n country that has been so long n sealed book 10 other
nations Of the earth.
The lecture was illustrated by reference TO the map,
and by the exhibition Of images Of Buddba, beads.
bells. and other parapharnalia Of temple worship.
As a matter of interest perhaps TO our lady readers,
we will add here something about dress in Japan, ex-
tracted from a recent publication on that country
"The style of dress in Japan is even more varied
than it is on Washington street or broadway on y
fine Sunday. A japanese lady, thoroughly arrayed,
is really an elaborate work Of art. A large amount
Of attention, and no little expense 10 begin with are
devoted 10 the arrangement Of the hair-even the
common people regularly employing a hnir-dresser.
If they cannot afford the luxury every day, they
make it last for two days by sleeping on a wooden pill
low placed under the neck. The item Of the most
importance in q japanese lady's toilet is her obi, or
girdle, which is usually Of ladies' bright cOlors, and
arranged behind with great care so as to form the
camel's hump so popular among our ultra-fashiona-
Bile bellies. The Grecian bend is an old institution In
Japan. To see one Of her dark-skinned ladies, with
her extensive headdress, a hump upon her back, and
extremely narrow skirt, high, wooden-heeled pattens,
her body thrown forward, and as she minces her
steps, you would imagine she was caricaturing the
brainless vOtaries Of fashion in other lands; but she
is only dressing as her people have dressed, aud walk
ing as they have walked for centuries. The obi serves
a purpose in Japan which | have not heard attributed
10 it elsewhere. When n woman becomes n widow she
makes no change in it unless she wishes 10 announce
her purpose never TO marry again, in which case she
ties her obi in front. How efiectual this is TO ward of
proposals [ do not know; but as il is always aud
everywhere the privilege Of a woman to change her
mind, il is said the obi occasionally in such a case
works its way around TO its normal position behind"