The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-08-04
A JAPANESE RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL.


.-s-s=--s1Te nrcJyU- sFSRITed workmanship. |
and contains neither images nor orna-
ments; but, as in all ShintO shrines, has
suspended in the chancel large circular
metallic mirror, which is regarded as an
emblem of the purity of the soul and spirit
of the Sun Goddess.
An idea of the great age of the Osuwa
temple may be formed when 1t Is men
toned that the stone steps of hard gray
granite are deeply worn by the sandaleo
feet of the devOut pilgrim
This temple, on the occasion or the MAI
SURF is profusely decorated with rlch
hangings and banners of hutter1ng SILK.
displaying quotations from the sacred
writings of Japan; and the people repair
to it, in their graceful Oriental customs
to invoke their gods and tender to them
their propitiatory offerings. On the ter
races of the approach, on either side, tiers
of seats are erected under canopies rising
one above the other. BY early dawn
every available space is occupied, ana the
great steps leading to the temple snow
one solid mass of people. When the nrst
procession presents itself, at u O'Clock IN
morning, it is noon almost before the last
completes its performance. First in the
- procession comes the hight priests OF the
temple accompanied by their acolytes, III
stole and gaberdine, bringing in their
care the helmet and sword Gin q shrine
magnifcently gilt and lacquere0 the
symbols of the deified hero whose Wor-
ship they conduct. After these, to the
roll of drums and the clash of cymbals,
appears a train of children, clad in mimic
armor, representing some expedition OF
one of the early mikadOs.
Then comes a pageant OF NEUROLOGICAL
device, the participants habited in anti
que costume, dancing the sacred dance.
which commentaries the withdrawal OF
the Sun Goddess from earth, and the lures
by which gods and men induced her once
more to brighten the armament with the
glory of her countenance. Following
these, drawn by fifty yonng men dressed
alike in appropriate costume OF the car
penter's guild, is a huge platform on wheels
on which rests a beautifully executed
model of a japanese tea house, OF charac-
teristic light, graceful structure, nlIeu
with a CAV arty of Geisha singing songs
and discoursin0 music. A company of
actors comes next in the paint and rouge
and splendid vestments of a court drama.
Then there comes drawn by 100 men In
the scanty garb of fishermen, boat OF
great size, filed with young men ana
bows. plying the implements of this import
ant vocation From the soldiers quarters
comes a regular phylanX or mall-clau war
riors of the feudal ages.
The exact representation of an enormous
whale, forty feet in length, drawn on
wheels by great number of hardy whaIe
fishers, carrying the harpoons, the nets
and all the apparatus used in the capture
of these monsters of the deep, was sue
cessful feature of this interesting eXh1oi
ton. They had skillfully arranged
pumping machine within its capaclou'
head, and from time to time great spout:
of water were thrown the air
drenching in their descent every ont
within reach, to the amusement or th'
SPECTATORS The favorite fables OF TIT
country are represented by professions II
the dexterous guise of foxes, of badgers
of cats. and, to the infinite diversion o
the juvenile portion of the audience, witt
the closely initiated antics of these femaA
animals. The legendary dragon from
whose tail. ancient history tells us, tn
sword was plucked that was given by tn
sun goddess to her descendant, Jimm1
Tenno. the first emperor of Japan, has
conspicuous place Conspicuous also II
this brilliant and varied pageant are u
concentrations of emblematic objects, eN
ecuted with high art and great cost, oorh
on stages covered with cloth OF golC
which elicit expressions OF admlratlo
from the people. These representation
are, for the most part, historical, Ie8eno
ary and myths. And through all the ua
and among the immense multItudes IN az
tendance, there is no confusion, no 0f
order. There are, in an eminent degree
however, unanimity OF deught ana uIi
yersal ioyousness; features that AWAY
mark the festivities of this best-mannere
and happiest people in the worlds
Paul Pioneer Press.