The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-23
MIRROR WORSHIP IN JiPAM
Why the Brsnxe Mirror IL 90 Important an
Article In Japanese Houses.

Prof. Ayrton lectured last wecl; at the
Royal Institution, his subject being The Magic
Mirror of Japan In Japan there II. he said
an alsenc" " house walls, interior aud exterior,
the houses consisting Of Il ROOT supported on
only Il low posts enclosing very little but empty
epas'. and p ldlng screens alone divide off COM
pNrtmcuts. Why. IN this comparative absence
of all thai W. should call furniture. does one
prticle pertaining To the ladies toisttc-ihe
bronze mirror with its stnnd-hold So promi-
u mt "A positionf This mirror rs usually cIrcu-
lar, from three Inches 10 twelve inches IN
diameter. made OF bronze. aud with bronze
handle covered with bamboo. Tine Ttlrctiug
face j. generally mora or les conyeN pol shei
with mercury kmHlgam, ana thu back Is beau
raised design. Some for the rustic population
hnNe n-O polished letters.
The eXpanHtlon Of the TACT that tho mirror is
almost pm crceletc' the rntir' furniture Is
found partly IN tho elaborate h''i'l dresses pf
the Japanese ladies md the painting of their
faces. and partly from the belief thnt rs the
sword WAS " thf sOui Of the sam puri,' - r. IA
mirror the soul of woman" 1t thu refOre con
stitutes the most valuable OF ali her posses
sions and two mirrors form part o. tho irou--
scau of every bride. Tho characteristic quail
ties of the mirror must, 1t is believed. he In ne
cordance with tho CONSTITUTION Of the possessOr.
aud second slght II resorie,i 10 In the selec-
ton OF n mirror. But why is the mirror So i'm
porant ~ the Imperial palace whore the Court
ladies stu pre-, irving the fashion OF old days,
comb back their hnir N TIE simplest style
Why does the fortune leller. instead Of looking
at u girl'S palm. regard the reflection in a mir
ror Z Why, instead Of referring L. the book 81
the recording angel. does the Japanese Plato
bring before The boalman his evil deeds reflect
od in Il mirror? And why does the mirror hold
50 important place IN japanese templ Tho
mirror ranks iir higher IN japanese history
than has been SUM sed; u, III TACT. takva T.
place 4 the cross IN hrs,iau countries.
Prof. AVCon rrnd the myth OF the origin Z
the Worship Of III" mirror. The main points "a
II are that whom gods ulone inhabited tho earth.
the sun goddess ono day hurt her hand with
Der shuttle. having been suddenly frightened
- pru, tical lnAc ~ her brother the god of the
sea. She Indignantly retired t. 4 cave. Dark
ness followed. and the GODDESS Ind - be- app
30 sod. The wisost If the gods suggested max
iug Nu image of her NOR, beautiful than her.
sef. The Japanese Nalcau f.shi~uOd a mir
ror IN the shape 81 the sun and an
tho gods In Ighed, and shouted. " Hero Is DE-
ity who sulpasscs even your glory Moman's
curiosity col al not stpud this. Tho goddess
p"cped out I'D while Hlmigng herself In the
mirror wHs r,ugnt and dragged out 10y u rice
rope. Thc national traditions have 70 that this
sun goddess Am liora5u % mi kamN sending
her udoptrd glaud~ou, who was a@o the grent-
grandfather Of tae first Enp'ror OF Japan, to
sua lue tho world, made HIM three presents:
tn" utdgG -tdI0d tthc precious stone emhlem-
ntlrai OF M spiritoi Wumanl, the sword (em-
blcmaiical Of Tho spirit of mani, and the mirror
teuhl 'W oi Ter own soul. Look" size said.
"ou t,.iS mirror Hs my spirit. keep II in the
sam" hou-" md q" the sgme floor with your
self. ami Worship I,q rs If yoI Were worshipping
my actual presence.