Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-05-07
sANQUETING THE DEAD.
How Buddhists In Japan Eneert, N Dole-
gates from tho Spirit Land.

: BoNeo AEOu1 SpA1AS
Not long ago a number Of elderly and
much-traveled gentlemen were grouped
in semi-circle around a big fireplace of
n downtown hotel, swapping yarns and
telling experiences. Among them was
DR.. G. II. Cotton Salter, who for many
years was United States Consul in Japan,
and afterward entered the Chinese Gov
crnment service. When DR.. Salter's
turn came to produce an original story
founded on personal experience, says
the San Francisco Chronicle, he told the
following tale:
"The many stories published during
the last months about Indian ghost
dances and the Messiah craze remind
me of one of the most remarkable Incl
dents have ever witnessed during my
long career in the orient, and am sure
there arc but few Americans or Euro
pcauS who have had the opportunity to
see the sights of which am going to
tell.
N'The native religion OF the Japanese
is, as you know, Buddhism, and there is
no creed which is SO full of superstition
as this. Some of the ancient beliefs of
the BuddhistS are calculated to brighten
the faithful and wildly portray the hor-
rible punishment that awaits the sinful
man after he closes his earthly career,
while others, with charming simplicity,
show that the greatest aim of the Hindu
religion is the release from exist
cnce. The doctrine of the trans
migration OF souls and a hope
for a better fate in future
life are the principal foundations upon
which Buddhism rests. Eagasaki,
where I resided for many years, was
famed for the splendid festivals in honor
of Buddha, or Gautama, the founder of
the religion. Owing to the work of
missionaries and the consequent spread
Of Christianity in Japan, MANI: of these
religious fetes are no longer publicly
observed, and the one of which am
about to speak had its last grand celc-
bration in 1856, just before 1 left Maya
saki.
at is called the Matsidre, and was
held during the last week in August or
the first week in September, continuing
four days. These days were set aside
for the reception of the spirits of the
dead, who, according to n legendary be-
lief, return once every year to their
old homes. For many weeks previous
to the festival preparations had beer: IN
progress. The houses of the believers
had all been carefully swept, cleaned
mad polished, and the home affairs,
which arc to be found in every native
house, had been rcdecorated and re-
furnished. The interior of all the
buildings had been profusely adorned
with flowers. the streets had been re-
paired and the whole city was in holi-
day attire.
ION the morning of the first day the
dead were received with much ccrc-
mony in the graveyard, which is in a
beautiful grove. Each mound was pro-
fuscly decorated with lighted lanterns
and garlands of tnany-colored paper
globes hung from tree to tree. On the
top OF every grave food of the dainticst
kind was spread. On mats spread
about each grave sat all the Twin; de-
sccndants of the person who had been
buried in that particular spot. Not
single tomb was neglected. If in the
course of years the family of any one of
the silent slccpcrs had completely
died out his grave had been en-
bcllished and supplied by strangers
The spirits were supposed to arrive
anu depart by water from the sea, and
for four nights end days the living COM
mIned with their dead and were with
them in spirit. The souls of the de-
parted were supposed to hover around
the tombs like substantial, visible
beings, and they were treated with
every attention due to sacred and dis
tinguishcd visitors from the other world.
"Thc night of the second day was de-
voted to a grand terpsichorcan enter
tainmcnt, or spirit dance, and tho crave
yard was transformed for once into n
ballroom, where ghostly dancers were
supposed to hold rcvelry. The scenes
radc q strong and everlasting impress
sion on me. The night was perfect, the
moon was at it's full and the Dir was
fragrant with the perfumes of thou
sands of flowers. Myriads of lights
were Pickering on the hill-sidcs which