The Portland daily press., 1894-11-10

and Observation-Disclosures Sacrifice of
Young Girl to Atone for National HUI
initiation.
what Is the secret of the deep and abiding
ethical influence of Shintoism, the prehis-
toIlc and national religion of Japan? writes
nj. W. ii. in the New York Sun, in review
ng AafcodIo Hearn's 'Glmpses of Unfamil-
lar Japan What is the nature of Sbinto?
HOW is one to define the common element
In the SIX kinds of Shnto which are known
to exist, and some of which no foreign
scholar has yet been able to examine for
lack OF time or authority or of opportu-
nifty. Even in it's modern external form
shInto Is sufficiently complex to task the
united powers of the historian, philolog list.
anu anthropologist merely to trace out the
multltudlnous lines of its evolution, and to
determine the sources of its various ele-
menus. These include primeyal polytheism
and fet1sh1sm, traditions of Turahian orr
gin, philosophical concepts from China,
Corea, and elsewhere, all mingled with
Buddhism, Taoisn, and Confucian ism
Even more likely to fail is the effort to find
the relation of Shintoism to the national
ethics by mere historical and pathological
analysis; as well seek to define the ulti-
| mate secret of life by enumerating the ele-
ments of the body which it ani-ates. Not
until the result of such scholarly efforts
shall have been closely combined with deep
knowledge Of japanese thought and feeling
can all that ShiDto is be fully comprehend
ed. Something, nevertheless, of what it sig.
miles in the simple poetry of it's beliefs, the
home training of the child, and the worship
paid by filial piety before the tablets of an
eestoTs' may De learned during residence
Oh some years IN Japan oy one VINO hVes the
NE OF the beople ana adopts their manners
ana customs. The marvellous vitality OF
onlntoism ls due to the fact that, IN the
course OF It's long development out OF unre-
corded beginnings, 1t became at very an
Client epoch, and still remains religion
OF the heart. Whatever be the origin OF lis
rites ana traditions, Its ethical spirit has be-
come 1dentlned with all the deepest and best
emotions OF the race. The secret living
force Of shintoism to-day. the force which
repels missionary efforts at proselytizlng,
means something much more profound than
tradition, OF Worship, or ceremonialism. 1t
is suggested that Shinto may yet, without
loss OF real power, survive all these. No
doubt the expansion of the popular mind
etAiOu6A SHuNntAOAi etilo tL9 iHautut6t OF
modern science must compel abandonment.
OF modification OF many ancient Shinto CON-
ceptions' but the ethics'of ShInto. it is pBe-i
dlcted. WIFI endure! For Shinto, signifies
character in the highest senseyocourage,
courtesy, honor, and. above all things, 10y
atty. The spirit of Shinto is the spirit of
hlial piety, the zest of duty. the readiness
to surrender life for principle, without a
nnuhf nF pbnp foua
docllty ofthe Japanese child, the sweet
ness of the japanese woman. 1t likewise
constitutes conservation, the wholesome
check upon the national tendency to cast
away the work OF the entire past in rash
eagerness to asslmllate too much of the fol-
elgn present. From another point of view,
1t may be described as religion transformed
into hereditary moral impulse, religion
transmitted into ethical instincts. 1t con-
stltutes IN line The whole emotional life of
the race, the soul of Japan. Evidently the
author Is no WelsmaLnist, for he AYERS that
the Japanese child is born Shinto. Home
teaching and school training only give ex-
preston, he thinks, to what is innate; they
DO not plant new seed; they do but quicken
the ethical sense, transmitted as trait
ancestral. Even as a Japanese infant in
iioiieo oueh ooiiAIy " Hauule Writing
brush, as never can be acquired by Western
fingers, SO does it inherit ethical sympa-
thles totally different from our own. Ask a
class OF Japanese students. young men of
IA TO Id, TO tell their dearest wishes, and. if
they nave condolences IN the qatestioneRf
perhaps ninc out OF ten Will answer: 71Tos
ole LOT ms MAJESTY. our Emperor. 'Al How
much THIS sense of'loyaity has beensl weak-t
ened IN such great centres as TOXIC by sthea
new agnostlclsm ana the rapid growth9 of
oeher nineteenth century ideas among the
student CLASS Mi. Heafn will not pretend to.
say out ne aMrms that In the country 1t
remains as natural 10 poyhood as joy. I'm
reasoning ~ also is, unlike the loyal senti-
ments OF mouerh europeans. which are the
result OF mature knowledge and settled
cohyiceion. NeVer ooes Inc Japanese youth
ask himseiI wny' Tie DUTY OF seif-sac1ifce
IS Inc ail-suneihg motive. ouch ecstatic
loaslty Is part OF the national life; 1t is,
III. nearh asserts, IN the olooo, inherent
as the npuise OF the anu TO perish Tor us
little repuolic' unconscious as the loyalty
Vi Dees 10 their queen. Inc readiness to
rsI