The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-16
The Primitive Religion of Japan.

The Primitive Religion of Japan.
The material fruits OF Western civilza-
ton arc kcenly appreciated in Japan.
Whether the vital spirit and essen-
tial conditions of self-proCress will
likewise be recognized aud repro
duced, may depend largely on the moral
and religious status. certain pow
crty of the japanese mind In respect of
motive and aspiration should apparently
result from the absence OF dogma or of
ethical teaching in the primitive and still
dominant religion. Although the ruling
classes of Japan have embraced the indif-
ferentism of CoNFucIUs, their character
must insensibly be moulded by the re-
lgious system Will ch environs them.
The remarkable movement which In 1867
overthrow the Shogounate and reinstated
the Mikado-a revolution to which the
resurrection of Papal authority under
GREGORY the Seventh presents the nearest
parallel-demonstrated how profoundly
the national religion was rooted In the
affections Of the common people. Divestcd
OF modern cOrruptions mainly OF Buddhist
origin, the Shinto or "gods way" resem-
blcs the Greek polythcsm, having com
menced with the alteration of the sun, and
gradually proceeding to tho porsoniica-
ton of other forces of nature The prime
val thcogony closes with AMATERAs, who.
like PALLAs, sprnnGfrom her fathers head,
aud with her the epoch Of actual regnant
dcitics begins. The issue of this supreme
goddess are supposed TO have ruled the
world during some two millions and Il half
OF years, finally transmitting their author
ity to mortal descendant, SIN-MU TENNo,
first Mikado (B. {. goo, from whose acces-
sion dates the Japanese era still in vogue.
Considered rs II popular faith, the pure
Shnto was based on the veueration of an
ccstors and of divine past. Just ~ the
Mikado counted the paramount divinities
among his progentors, the ddimiOS and
grandces OF his court traced their geneal-
ogy to the Kami, or secondary deities, and
the whole people believed itself descended
from the creators OF japan. In this way
national and family pride, the reverence
edue TO the gods ana TO earthly masters,
were all COMPOUNDED in % single sentiment.
The Mkado plainly is more than pope or
caliph. lie is the hueal heir and incarna-
ton Of divinity, aud to him, therefore, as
supreme mediator, pertained the function
Of conducting worship. of presenting TO his
celestial kindred the prayers ana offerings
Of earth. Nothing could be simpler than
the primitive worship, which involved no
ritual or pous ceremonies occurring at
regular intervals, as in the monotheI-tio
rcliaions of the West. Each KANT nus one
or more days cousccrated to hs memory,
Nv los IL
around his temple There are no sacri-
fees, only offerings OF cakes. oil, and living
birds, followed by dramatic reprcsonta-
tioua and recrcatious which recall the fu-
neral games of Greek antiquity. The gods,
in short are honOrcd rs departed friends
rather than adored rs dctics. Another
impressive feature of the Shinto is the to-
tai absence OF idols. Its cmplcs-sharply
contrnsted with the Buddhist fanes-aro
rude, unpretending frame structures, and
contain nothing but an altar-shaped table
bearing n mirror, emblem OF right judg
ment, and the gohel, OF symbol OF purity,
which consists Of strips Of white paper
attached to bamboo rods.
Beyond the worship of ancestors, the
Shinto may be said to inculcate nothing.
1t afilrms no dogma respecting tho divine
nature, the theory Of rewards ana punish
monts, or the Immortality of the soul. Tn
doubtedly the Emperors become kdmi
| after death. Descended from the goddess
Of the sun. they resume their place beside
| hor, but that simple mortals have m anal
osous destiny, neither priests nor com
mentators venture to aver. Whllo il thus
! ignores dogmaIic teaching, the Shinto Is
! equally devoid OF n moral code. Aside
| from some superstitious ujunctions against
! physical impurity and n classified cata-
logue of things unclean, the believer finds
III his kdmi traditions examples to shun OF
initiate, but no precepts of conduct. In
deed the want of ethical prescriptions /:
accounted "A merit in their faith by native
thcologians. They argue that since the
gods have permanent representative on
earth in the person OF the Emperor, whose
| spirit dwells in perfect harmony with hi;
| divine mothers, man needs only to con
form to the will of the Mlkado in order &c
keep in the right path. Thus the absence
OF moral law practically entails the doc
| trine OF passive obedience. The sovereign
becomes not merely the exclusive fountain
of spiritual and temporal authority, but
the infallble exponent of absolute truth
The political bearing OF the Shinto is OBJ
vious, and although its principles have no
always been respected, especially by the
grandees, who for centuries deAed the i'm
perial control, they remained inveterat'
in the popular conscience. We can under
stand how much strength the governmen
of the FIRST Mikados derived from the car
dinal tenet OF the national faith, and VIVA
efforts would be made to resuscltate Thu
doctrine after the introduction Of Buddh
ism and the usurpation of the ShogouI
had weakened its power. When the Shint'
reaction, which dates from the beginning
OF the century, eliminated in open war
the prestige of the ancient religion proved
so irresistible that the numerous and dis
ciplinod troops of Yeddo flung down thei
arms at sight of the sacred banner
The restored Government has too mucl
sapacity to neglect the instrument of II
authority. Determined TO rehabilitate tn
antique worship to the detrment OF Buddh
ism, it has prosecuted the diflicult tasl
without clamor or intolerance, sometime
| 0metly crusing tho paintings OF Buddhis