Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-31
WHY CHRISTIANITY
Was Not Adopted by the japanese Gov
ernment When 1t was InstitutiBg
Those Reforms Which
Have Made for it Place Among the
Civilized Nations OF the Earth
DR.. Dresser's Story.

1t might haze been supposed, says the
London Pal Mall G0zetCe, that the long suc-
cession OF travellers in Japan, beaded, as far
as graphic power and picturesque freshness
go, BY Miss Bird, would have exhausted the
interest excited in this msgieal country, and
would have let little for DR.. Dresser to tell
u. Ibis, however, is not the case. Within
he limits Of what is most characteristic and
personal in his book Japan: lis Architecture,
Art, and Art NanutdetuTes), he has been pre-
ceded by no writer, and his remarks dem AVID
the closest attention from stu ienis OF the
history of art
DIR. Dresser's fret expedition wss made 10
the magni feent cluster OF tempes an5
shrinss al ShIba, suburb OF Tol1o. Here
he had less than his Usual good fortune, yet
more than that of any previoEs visitor; for,
though be was liable TO carry away ans
drawing or photographs OF these superb
buildings, with ons exception, yet he wss
admitted to-ssversi parts Of the Tombs OF
The >S1oguns, which none but great
~IJa,5snese officials have entered before
The one Illustration which he is
able to give of the architecture at
Shiba represents the watef-tank IN
the courtyard Of the great temple. This build
ing consists OF a very heavy and richly deco
raled rooi, 10 .he ordiaary Japsnese style,
resting on moDoli'h columns, on the top OF
which fest sons 10 colors and gold are painted.
DR.. Dresser's general Impression OF S1ioa
NAV be qucted: Buildings so rich in col
orr so beautiful in cetail, so striking in
SWIM bolsm, have never before seen, or even
dreamed of. II Id g blooms been employed
on the Wood-carviDgs, had the colorisl OF the
A ham bra done his utmost 10 add 10 the
forms which in themselves are almost per-
feet a new charm throughout the addition of
pigments, andlwere the whole of such details
So bordinsted to tag places 10 vast archi-
tee, ural edifc. by the architect of the Pan
theon, no more worthy tfect could be pro-
.uced than that OF the buildings on which
m v eyes now rested. We walk through the
fSourty ard Inspecting the long rows OF stone
| 'nIerns, and viewing the exteriers OF the Va
| rious>build ,ngs on which we find birds, W.
ers, wates, and clonds carved wirh tender
ness and DO dne.s scarcely 20 be surpassed,
aud SO oolored tina, each object retains its
| individual beau'y, while the various parts
| combine 10 produce an effect almost perfect"
=. Que Of DR.. Dresssr>s most curious and in
| teresLssg ezpediLions was 10 Koys-Zln, 9
in little depression, there lies sacred city
| Tull of ,utiqne shrInes and temples. -Four
/ hundred and forty of these holy bulldogs
| sull exist in place which formerly CON
! tainsd 1000. They lie clustered together IN
! the snow, uuder the shadow OF enormous
| cOuItsre. W0lcn meet ABOVE tHeLu INC Inc
| nave of some huge cathedral. The strange
| confusion and obscurity of this mysterious
| city, into the more arcane parts If which even
| DR.. Dresser was not permitted to enter, its
rarehed atmosphere on the edge of the frost
limit, its throng of priests, its great sauctIty
and antiquity, the beauty of its prospects
from 30 narrow a point OF extreme altitude
combine 10 make Koya-Zin one OF the mos
fascinating D aces ia the world. The thirty
l Of cd nn suef
extraordinary difficulties to the explorer
aud among The most charming illustration
of Dr.. Dresser's book, and those over which
we are tempted oaltnger longest, are tn,
full and elaborate cuts from photographs o
ths Nishi-hong- Temple at Kioto
Tais bulldog Is surrounded, as in all suel
cases, by a low wall, broken here aud Their
By rooted gateways of the most SUMPTION
magns fieence The most celebrated earpeu
ter builder that has ever lived in japan
worked or the architecture of Kioto, an.
OILS umbrella is no arded among the antiqui
ties of the place as an almost sacred relic
II was the b Oh priest of Nishi- hong-wan-
who was selected by the reforming Japanes
government Of 1868 TO proceed to Londoi
ami TO report On the Influence of the Chris
tian religion on public NOR lis in England
1t was .he intention of the Japanese govern
}, | ment that If the report were favor Die
i Christianity should be introduced through
, out the coua,ry. But after the high prizes
"a mos. enlightened and spiritual y-mindet
man. of very liberal views--had spen
eighteen months in Lonion ne reported Il
, his government that Christianity was ia
, more DO werless than ejeha ShInto or Buddh
ism in prevenllpe crime ana particular;
drunkeuness and 1t was therefore resolved
~ make - change in the public religion o
, I,nsy( The result of this mission 10 ght b
! | m ase the subject of much saiutary reflection
! | M chose tho are anxious al all costs to fois
S6r faith and manners on The gentle races o
4 the East. Dr. Dresser has some extremely
severe remarks on the rude and uncivilizst
AmsrluaAs who visit Japan fsr Commercial
reasons; and il is more instructive thar
agreeable 10 learn that though the Japanes
respect our energies and our industrial
enterprise they far from enjoying oul
customs or desiring to initiate our religion
1t il enough TO make US shuddes for our ra G.
20 read that Dr.. Dresser found 10 one trmp,
the name of some British or America
traveller scrubbed in blue pain across III
sacred forehead of Buddha.
The chief obi ct which Dr. Dresser had il
view 40 coming Es15so personai rel3i9ns viii
the hlgt japanese officials was TO Undue
ltheH1 to preserve intact their great arlisti
industries, and TO persuade them lhsl il va
by conservative spirit OF taste stoue th a
they could hope TO rel ain the interess Of tn
West. 1t plain that such plea i by N
means out of place. The love OF tawaIy an,
ugly European manufactures has spread to
most alarming extent among this people
which so lately enjoyed complete immuni
ty from bad taste. DIR. Dresser's visit 10 tn
Mikado was a grievous example of'this dis
essed love of what Is European. The pas
sages OF the Emperor temporary pslac
were covered with Brussels carpets; lh
wall-sidss were covered with a cheap Frenc
wall paper, and the throne was en- ordinsr
European armchair. Dr.. Dresser, in his re
ply 10 the Mikado's address, adreitly sus
gested that we in Eogland follow the Japan
ese ar isis at a respec full dis ace, and tbs
we cannot permit them to suppose that on
tapestries and fsraiture are worthy OF tn
notice of race gifted with 90 much g-niu
for beautiful invention.