The herald., 1894-12-23

GIIMPsEs OF UNFAMILIAR JAPAN. BY
LAFcADIo HEARS. vols. Houghton,
Muffin x Co.
More than one Japan is to be found Ia
the bow-shaped empire that is just now
proving so troublesome q neghbor to
the great middle kingdom. and 1t is
we'll that we should be leu to turn for
space from the Japan of Ping Yang and
the Yalu to the almost ideal society de-
pcted in these fascinating volumes.
Among the numerous writers who have
made Japan their theme, but very few
(of whom Mr.. Percival Lowell and ths
late DR.. Purcell are the chiefs) have been
able to discern the exquisite charm that
Law under the surface OF old Japanese
life, and that may still be found by those
who know how to look for it, hidden be-
meath the strats-part genuine, part
venee--of modern accretious. But
never before has this delightful phase
in human history been fully aud ade.
uuately set forth. Mr.. Hearn has the
sympathetic temperament. the minute
mental vision, the subdued style pecu'
liar to all that is good in Japanese
art and literature, needed Tor the
accomplishment of q labor which to him
has been q labor of love indeed. Here
we have no mawklsh sentimentality, no
excessive laudation on the one hands
on the other no occidental har6hness,
no occidental ignorance of the sweet
mystery of eastern ways OF lie and
modes OF thought. What this most
charming OF writers on far eastern SUBJ
jests has seen all may see, but only those
can unde rstaud who are endowed with
q like faculty OF perception OF unobtru-
sive beauty and like power, it must be
added, of patient and prolonged study
OF common appearances and everyday
events. The book is full, too. of curious
and varied learning, garnered with
much toll from many sources, which
those who know will discern on every
page, but which, after fit Japanese FASH
ion, rather suggests itself by results than
seeks formal expression. And ii it
should be said that the picture drawn is
merely a subjective one, the right
answer should be thankful recogni.
tion. OF publicistic and Photographic
accounts OF Japan and it's people we
have more than enough, and they are
nearly all worthless. What was wanted
is the impression made on the mind OF
q true artist, who has had time and op-
portunity, anu who possesses the neces-
sary endowments, for studying the peo-
pie as people, and 30 has got nigh to
the inwardness OF their lie and thought.
This is Just what Mr.. Hearn gives his
readers. and the quaint, delicate and
peculiar beauty OF his portraiture is, in
truth, as much objective as subjective
with this eaving clause. that as child
is unconscious of its own artless grace
so is the surviving life OF old Japan here
depicted unknowing, probably, and in.
tentionless of its own charm.
What remains of old Japan in the re-
moter districts-and none is more re-.
mote from modern ways than the prov
ince where Mr.. Hsarn spent the greater
portion of his four years residence,
parted by the western sea from the
coasts OF Corea and Tartary-is per-
haps more delightful to contemplate
than the Japan OF the Shogunate itself.
The feuds and blood revenges. the cruel
executions and tortures, the enforced
euicides and assaseinations, the oppres-
sions and class despotisms, have all
passed away and though with the saw
aver features OF an antique society that
endured down to the later sixties
the impressive pageantries OF the past
have gone, many OF the picturesque be-
liefe, pretty and tender faiths, and sim.
pie touching customs still linger, and
with them that happy, artless, sensuous
(but mot sensual, kindly rather than
jovial air OF present enjoyment charac-
teristic OF the people. and free. to the
eve OF the western onlooker at least, from
every trace OF vulgaritv. Of one Of the
most exquisite of these beliefs let Mr..
Hesrn tell the simple story, proclaimed
by every graveyard to the pasaerby:
Descending the sbadowed steps (of a
osmetery). find myself face to face
with six little statues about three feet
high. the faces OF the
six are the same, each figure differs from
the other by the attitude only and en-
blematic attitude. and all are smiling
the like faint smile. About the neck OF
each figure a white cotton bag is sus-
pended, and all the bags are filled with
pebbles, and pebbles have been piled
high also about the feet Of the statues,
and upon their knees, and upon their
shoulders. Archaic,
mysterious. but inexplicably touohing'
all these soft childish faces are :.
The Six Jizo these images are called :.
representations of the most beau
tiful and tender figure in Japanese pop
MAR faith, that charming divin.
ity who cares for the souls OF
tile children and saves them
ON the demons. But why are those
;tle stones piled about the statues p
Well, it is because, some say. the child
rosts must build little towers of stones
penance in the Sai-no Kawara, the
Dry Bed of the River OF Souls. which is
the place where after death oil children
must 20. And the Oni. who are de-
mons, come to throw down the little
stone piles az fast as the children build
and every stone one lays at the
feet or upon the knees of Jizo, with a
prayer from the heart, helps some child
soul in the Sai-no Kawara to perform
its long penance."
This is a renewed strength OF Bud.
dhist beliefs in japan now that the per.
sscution of the seventies has ceased.
Shinto. the more ancient religion, still
maintains a friendly alliance with the
exotic faith, and 10 favored by the state
az preserving the power and dignity OF
the mikado, though his divine descent
is less and less insisted upon in official
documents. Practically, the educated
lstter-day Japanese are contemptuouBly
indifferent. They have no faith or
creed; they have not even philosophy
or . moral code; Q kind of rudimentary
ethics. plagiarized from dozen western
sources, ia taught In the schools. In.
deed. IT sometimes appears as II the
only belief Japan possesses is an eclectic
eide OF international law. used with
Machiayellian astutan aae aa a veapon