Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-21


ohossiy Ceremony Witnessed In J.pss~ss
Cemetery.
Prom the San Fr-ncssoo ohronicle
A few nights ago q number OF elderly and
much-traveled gentlemen were grouped IN
semi-circie around the big fireplace Of down
town hotel swapping yarns and telling expert
ences Among them was DR. q. n. Cotton Sal
Ter, who for many years was United States con-
sui IN Japan and afterward entered the Chinese
government service. When Dr. salser's turn
came to dive down into the recesses Of his men,
DRY aud produce en- original story founded on
personal experience he gased fhonghtfally into
the glowing embers in the CRATE and ass<r
short pause told the following tale:
The many stories published during the rrst
months about Indian ghost dances and the
Messiah craze remind me Of one OF the mo.s
remarkable incidents 4 have ever witnessed
during my Icing career in the orient. and I am
sure there are but few Americans or Euro
peans who have had the opportunity 10 sse he
sights of which am going 10 tell.
The nati-e religion cf the Japanese il. a. You
know, Buddhism. and there is no creed which
IL as fall Of superstition. Some OF the ancient
beliefs of the Baddhists are calculated 70
brighten the faithful and viyidly portray the
horrible punishment that awaits the sinful man
after he closes his earthly career. while Others,
with charming simplicity, show that the great
- Nt4H u tAt tluuu rtittAOu tuS fctc&S
from existence.
The doctrine OF the transmigration Of souls
and hope FOR better fate In q future life are
the principal foundations upon which BUD
ohisn rests. Nagasski. where l resided for
many years, was famed for the splendid festi-
walls in honor OF Bnadah. or Gautams. the
founder Of the religion. Owing TO the work 81
missionaries and the consequent spread Of
ohristinnity IN Japan, many Of the religious
fetes are no longer publicly observed, aud the
one Of which am about TO speak had It's last
grand celebration in 1856. Just before l left
Nagasaki.
Its called the Matsidri and, was held during
the last week in August the first week in
september. continuing four days. These DAYS
were set aside for the reception Of the spirits u
the dead, who. according 90 a legendary belief.
return once year TO their old homes. For
many weeks previous TO the festival prepare
uons had been IN progress. The houses Of the
believers had all been carefully swept, cleaned
! and polished, and the home sltars which are
10 De found in every native house, had been
redecorated and refurnished. The interior Of
all the buildings had been profusely adorned
with flowers, the streets had been repaired and
the whole city was clothed in holiday attire.
On the morning of the first day the dead
were received with much ceremony IN the
graveyard, which is in a beautiful grove.
Zach mound was protusely decorated with
lighted lanterns and garlsnds Of many-colored
| paper globes hung from tree TO tree. On the
top OF every grave food of the daintiest kind
was spread IN tempting manner and qaanti-
ties sufficient to appease the appefifes OF an
army Of the hungriest kind Of ghosts. On mats
spread about the graves sat al the living de-
scendants of the person who had been buried
| IN that particular spot. Not single tomb WA
] neglected. IL in the course of Years the family
OF any one Of the silent sieepers had npletely
died out his grave had been embellished and
supplied BY strangers.
The spirits were supposed to arrive and de-
part by water from the sea and for four days
md rf-ht he 1.x=s..
dead and were with them in spirit. The souls
OF the departed were supposed 10 hover around
/ the tombs like substantial visible beings ana
they were treated with every attention due 20
sacred and distinguished visitors from the
other world.
The night OF the second day was devoted 10
\ a grand terpsichOrean entertainment OF spirit
dance and the graveyard was transformed sur
| once into bali room. where ghostly dancers
were supposed 20 hold revelry. The scenes
made strong and everlasting impression on
me. The night was perfect, the moon was AT lie
full and the air was fragrant with the perfumes
OF thousands of flowers. Myriads Of lights were
Pickering or the hillsides which surround tie
city and the colored lanterns swayed gently to
! and fro. keeping time 20 the chimes Of the
| silvery bells in the temple tower. which fur
nished the music for the mystic enter tainment.
Around artificial lake in the center Of the
graveyard the people knelt in silent devotion
worshiping on the shrine Of BuddLa, Whose
emblem. the lotus flower, rose from the middle
| Of the lake.
Every one OF the four days and nights brought
new surprises and ceremonies, many Of the lat
| ter being held in the temple, the doors Of
which were closed and guarded against the en-
trance Of infdels. On the last night-or the
night of nights, as il was ealled-s grand pro-
cession finished the festival The peopls
marched in parade 10 escort their spirit visitors
/ TO the water front, where they were TO depart
| Bostmen carried on their shoulders q gigantic
craft built of wood and straw. in which the
! dead were supposed 10 be seated and which was
! TO convey them back 10 spirit land and to
Ohata, the great father beyond the sea. This
boat, which il cslledFukuy. was a masterpiece
OF Japanese carpentry. II was ninety feet long
and had q stately mast with a huge sail which
bore in native characters the inscription:
"Naidinamawidi," word which is symbolic Of
Gautsmas greatness.
rTnis boat, artistically and richly deco
rated, was launched with much ceremony after
the last spirit had been embraced and, hgura-
lively speaking, had taken his seat on board.
II was then pushed ont into the ses and drift
ing away was finally carried out Of sight by the
tide. And so ended the last festival Of hatsi-
dri ever held publicly in Nagasaki and the
most splendid religious celebration ever wiz
messed