The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-12-01
ODDITIES OF JAPANESE LIFE.

Trs.ks From h Land of the Rising Sun
at tho National Museum.
A few years ago Col. James Steven
con reported having witnessed a Curl
BUS ceremony in q s~ubterranean cham.
Der among the Moquis Of New Mexico.
1t was a religious performance, en-
blems being wrought on the ground by
. priestessI in sands of different colors
yellow, green, red, w,.ite, and black.
Among these emblems were the
lightning snakes" which are four in
number, the green and white snake
being female and the yellow and red
snakes male. Exact reproductions of
two of the sand pictures art now on
exhibition at the National museum.
Around the originals many weird rites
were performed, dramatizing the Lee
gend Of the adventures of the snake
hero. The celebration was hat Of the
snake dance.
subsequently the same art was found
to exist among tho Navajoes and
ApacheA But what could be more
surprising than to discover it in Japan,
practiced In exactly the same fashion,
though for amusement and not for re-
ligious purposes. In that country per-
ipatetic artists make such sand mosa-
les for the entertainment of the crowd
that is surf to gather. The expert car
ries about with him q bottle of fine
sand Of different colors. Taking it in
his hand, he skillfully allows it to
stream through his fingers, making
either . single or q double line Of one
or W. colors at will. The work is done
very rapidly, and the pictures are often
exceedingly good.
Now, how does it happen that the
Jspsnese and Moqui Indians have this
art in common? Can it be that they
are descended from the same incest
orsp Such Q conclusion Is not to be
jumped at by any means. The remote
progeuitors Of those Indians may have
lived in Japan. Possibly the present
japanese drove them out Of the
try, but learned from them how to
make aand pictures. The tide Of hui
man migration swept the descendants
Of the expelled aborigines of Japan to
that part of the world which is nov
called New Mexico, where they have
preserved the ancient, religious prac-
tice to this day, making their mosaics
with elaborate ceremonial in cham
bers underground. This theory is sug-
gested by Prof. Otis T. Mason, of the
Smithsonian institution.
The ancient religious ceremony Is
transformed in Japan into an amuse-
ment. That is not an uncommon phe-
nomenon-the metamorphosis of a
pious rite into q game or show.
The toys Of to-day are the tools of yes
terdsy. The weapons of q short time
sgo r the p~laythings Of the present
Children now play with the bow and
arrow, which were the means Of sub
sistence and the instruments of war in
ages gone by.
The japanese government recently
presented to the National museum q
very interesting group of life size Hg-
ures representing the famous warrior
Nobunags and his generals. The scene
depicts = council of war ON the field Of
battle. The costumes and armor are
actual relics preserved from the six
teenth century. Nobunaga's helmet is
one that was worn by the hero him
self. In the latter part Of the ak
tenth century he was the greatest
man in Japan, governing In the name
Of the mikado. But his greatest celeb
rity came from his efforts to drive
Buddhism out Of the country, whore it
had 10 . considerable extent suppressed
ed the native Shinto religion.
In Nobunaga's day the Buddhist
priests werc fairly running Japan.
There religious establishments were
great stronghold The greatest of
them inclosed thirteen valleysand over
AVE- hundred temples and shrines.
Hero thousands Of monks were con-
srsgated. They chanted before gor-
gs0us affairs, reveled in luxury and
1ieeutiousness, dallied with concubines
and hstched plots TO fan the flames Of
fsudal war. They were protected by
their sacred character, - well as by
physiesl force.
Nn>Dlsga stacks this stronghold
aud 6dyne6sthe shrines and temples,
killing thou1ands Of men, women and
children. He also destroyed an inn
nense fortified temple and monastery
in the province Of Osaba. Several
thousand Of the people tried to escape
during . storm, but were overtaken
and slaughtered without regard TO age
or see. A funk laden with the ears
aud noses Of the slain was permitted
to Aost by the besieged castle in full
view Of the garrison. From these ire
mendous blows Buddhism In Japan has
not recovered to the present day
Warrington Star.