Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-09-06
OUR JAPAN LETTER .
A Shinto Religious Festival

Writers and students of ShintOism are
not very sure, after all, that it is a religion.
That is, it seems to recognize SO little of the
religious instinct in man, that many think
if it were Independent of Buddhism it would
not exist as mode of worship. But if this
be true now, because it has degenerated,
yet the time certainly was when it was the
only religion that the Japanese NATURALLY a
very religious people) had. Before the
sixth century of our era it received the full
faith of the people. That Was before
China had invaded the land with her civil
cation and religion. Everything then was
purely and naturally Japanese. That pc
Rod is called the age of pure Shinto.
When we speak of pure Shinto, we
use the word pure in its modern
scientific meaning-as unmixed entire.
However, the japanese would perhaps at
tach the sense of moral purity and perfec-
ton to it. 1t is now the State religion,
supported by the government, though it is
hardly to be supposed that the government
has any faith III Its pretenslons. 1t supports
ShlutoIson simply because 1t Is a political
machine of no little influence, and fosters a
kind of patriotism which Is fattering to
those III power. It's whole history and de-
veto ment as religion has been of SUI h a
kind as the rulers would consider patriotic
Being taught that all things began from
an egg, evolving the world, which In turn
produced the sun and moon as goddesses,
and thence Their descendants, who became
the people OF Japan, ruled by these very
gods, 1t Is not wonderful that they regarded
thIs land aud pc, pie rs superior to ali
others, and worship the B4ikaao as divine
hence the chief duty of the Shinto relig
ion was to pay houors to Emperors and
Generals The Emperor is worshIpped even
While he lives; generals not till after they
are dead. Every festival is in honor of
some hero. Such hatterles are always very
accepta BILE to the man Ill office, AID quite
likely to be rewarded. And 1t Is undoubted-
~ true that people with a profound rever-
euce tor their rulers are more easily gov
erned. So the reason for the policy of en-
couragiLg Shlntoism Is apparent.
hey call their religious ''Alatsuries" or
worslups Each Temple is dedicated to
some hero, and most of the devotlons at
that place are paid to that person. mat
5 r lasts from one TO ten days Recently, |
III this CITY, there was large matsuri at |
Jenna Heavenly place. III honor of a dis |
tuguisued ancIent Ienji, who lived some |
twelve hundred years ago, and was not only |
a ruler, but also a poet whose works are
classic.
At-this place is one of the largest Shuttle |
temples III Japan. During the MatsurI l |
visited 1t twice. When l came within half |
Il mile of the place L began to encounter
crowds of people going to and coming from |
the festival The streets were lined with |
brilliantly lighted and fancy paper lanterns.
On all sides were shops for the sale of toys,
as mementOes OF the occasion. Frequently
a crowd of persons would be x Jhered
around figure of wax or plaster, repre-
sentlng some departed hero, and pay ing
him homage. There would pass "a com.
pany OF oys ana glrls. painted and dressed
Ior the occasion, and very much intoxicated
with Japanese sake, singing and dancing
and waving charms. Finally, following
the crowd, we came to the temple The
| temple grounds were illuminated by
a succession of brilliant fireworks.
! On every side were shows for the display of
| acting monkeys, dogs and men. There was
/ one very timely decorated and lackered boat
IN which the gods were supposed toaride;
beautiful white Albino pony, which none
| but the gods ever mounted; sacred wells
| aud clseerns, the water of which was said to
| possess healing properties, and from which
many were drinking; figures of sacred COWS
and other animals, whose countenances were
almost worn away by the hands OF diseased
persons; magnificent stone and bronze Ian
terms given by some wealthy CevUtee, for
I 8hIch meritorousl deed he not only APP
peases the gods, but also receives from the
passing througs of future generations their
| homage and devotion. In the temple are
number of priests, dressed III white, whose
principal business seems to be to beat drums
aud receive the pennies of the worshlpers.
Two or three girls, from twelve to fourteen
years old, very beautiful aid elegantly
dressed, dance and pray before the gods.
With fan IN one hand, and bunch of
junghng bells IN the other, they dance back
and forth few tunes, when, at sgnal from
the drummers, they kneel before the altar
and pray tor the multitude. The altar in a
ohftIto pie Is exceedingly SIMPLE con-
slstIug of only desk or upright post,
from which hang twisted STRIPS of white
paper. Gloups of meD aud boys, drunk
Win sake, danced and sang and repeated
name winch told was the name of
devil whom they worshlsped very assldu
ousy.
DO tits plan to be seenaat a glance that
there Is nothIng In Shintoism which is ele-
Vaung or purifying to the soul, but much
that Is degrading. Or i e. 3 ta
The only feature about it that can be
recommended Is the reveren for superiors
which 1t encourages. But it is very doubt
ful whether such reverence for superiors
1t begets is at all conducive to the free
and healthy growth of the mind AS con-
clude this arucie, crowd of half naked
| men and women, following Car of the
gods, 90 screaming and dancing through
The street past my house.
j. B. PORTER
Osaka, Japan, July 90, 1882.
BROWNS IRON BITTERS.