Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-01-19
THE THE NIKKO TEMPLE.
A BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL
STRUCTURE IN JAPAN.

A BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL
STRUCTURE IN JAPAN.
Extends Over Hundreds OF Acres and Their,
Arc Miles Of Stately Avenues-Man
Other Interesting characteristics Of tn,
Country and Its People.
The more I see of Japan, the more il
f%ascinates me. The cultivated parts ar,
a continuous garden, every square foo,
utilized. Where the land rises above thu
level of possible irrigation pine trees ar
planted. Mulberries, for the food of the
silk worm, and fruit trees give variety tc
the stretches of rice, millet and vegetables
These level and terraced fields are bounded
by wooded heights. Often between the
fields are hedges-not to make a barrier,
but rather to indicate a boundary. There
are no fences seen in a days ride-that
is, no real fences. Sometimes one comes
to a light latticework of bamboo, like the
work of children. The trees range from
the slim and symmetrical bamboos, with
tops as graceful as ostrich feathers, to
massive pines, camphors and cryptome-
rias, uniting elegance with amplitude.
b people interest me more than the
landscapes. They present to the traveller
constant adaptation of means to ends an
preaching perfection. Most of them are
poor, but without squalor, half naked, vet
not ashamed; industrious, but not with
out leisure and its fruits. Everything
they have, from the bamboo cutters and
conductors On their simple houses up to
the best products of their art, serves it's
purpose admirably. Even their wooden
pattens and clogs, their straw rain coats
and oiled paper umbrellas, seem to be the
very best for them. They nave arrived at
their methods by long experience. If their
civilization is not of the highest character,
1t is complete. Add to this their urbanity
and cheerfulness, the happiness of the
children, the perfect manner of the maid
ems, and, indeed, of the whole population,
and one gets the impression that here is
a people who can teach the missionaries
sent to them many useful lessons.
After returning from Atami to Yoke
hama and spending one day in trying to
digest what we had seen and yielding to
the temptations of curios which are never
duplicated, but always new and original,
we started one morning for Nikko. At
Nikko are the most famous and, the most
elegant temples, in the highest state of
preservation, placed in scenery at once
grand and beautiful. These costly works
of art are not S much temples today as
national monuments. No words can con-
vey an idea of their elegance or the rich
ness OF their decorations: No European ca
thedral or palace can compare with them
in the latter respect. OF course they lack
the majestic proportions of the famous
Christian churches, but in variety, origi-
nality and richness Of ornamentation they
surpass the finest productions of European
builders. Many of them nave substruc-
lures of stone, but the rich effects are pro-
duced by bronze and lacquer work, and
by such carving as only japanese artists
nave accomplished. The carvings are gen
orally on the exteriors. Many are gro
tesque, but all are full of life and action.
recall a frieze of large monkeys, one of
which presses his paws upon his lips, an
other on his ears and a third on his ewes.
Also Il sleeping cat over a gateway, SO life
like that one expects to see her move if
disturbed. Outside inc inside the most
charming harmonies of color arrest the at
%tention.
We advance from court to court through
these wonderful gateways, finding each
more beautiful than the others. And
around all and among all the stately cryp-
tomerias, adjoining a stone stairway here
and stretching to right and left in grand
avenues. Nowhere else have I seen such
combinations of nature and art. AS we ad-
vance we constantly ascend, opening new
vistas continually, and after we leave the
last court Of the temple there are 200 stone
steps, divided into four great stairways,
which lead up to the mausoleum of Ieyasu.
The tomb itself, shaped like a small pa
CODA, is a single bronze casting of a light
color, produced by the admixture of gold.
The accessories include a stone table bear
ing an immense bronze stork with a brass
candlestick in it's mouth, an incense burn
er of bronze and a vase with artificial To-
tus flowers and leaves in brass.
Turning from this, we pass on to other
temples, through Other stately avenues
and spacious courts, To the mausoleum of
Iemitsu, equally beautiful, though less
p%rofusely decorated. You must imagine
tori, those peculiar temple gates of gran
lite and bronze, great stone lanterns, huge
bells, stone fountains, SO finely leveled
that the water flows over every inch of
their circumference in a silver film, the
rich colors of the bronze and the lacque-
AdoOOAE cOu1COlluCo Vlt1uly Icu-
leaping cascades, colossal sculptures, and,
above all, the enormous trunks and the
graceful foliage of the trees.
Thu floors of the temples are either shin
ing with lacquer or covered by immacu-
late mats, and the visitor is obliged to re
nov his boots at the threshold, putting
on a pair of soft soled slippers.
When I tell you that these structures
extend over hundreds of acres, and that
there are miles of stately avenues, you can
form some idea of the extent of the famous
Mike temples. The amount of human
labor expended here-and generally labor
of a high order of artistic skill-is some
thing enormous. The richness of the ma
terials used is also to be considered. It
is estimated that these temples could not
be reproduced today for $4,000, 900.
They are visited by thousands of pill
grims, who show all the outward forms OF
devotion. Certain it is that the opportu-
nifty to see such works Of art must be an
sesthetic education. The ethical instruc-
ton is rude, but it seems to include all
that is considered essential by the great
body of Christians. They have a supreme
god-Amida-and many subordinate DEL
ties, to whom they appeal for special bless
ings. They have a system Of rewards and
punishments after death, and the most