The herald., 1895-08-18

the bay OF Osaka. the haven OF all ships.
In the reign of the fifteenth Mikado.
A. d. 1874 a commission was sent to in
spect the district of Yamashiro, with a
view to the selection of permanent, site
for the royal residence. The comm ission
reported IN favor of the spot where Ky
oto now stands ss worthy the supreme
honor of being the residence OF the ''son
of heaven" The city occupies an ellipti-
cal valley, walled in on three sides by
evergreen mountains which mbrace it SO
closely that many a nobleman has an AL
pine height rising from his garden, and
the Shinto prophets might mount to the
clouds from the doors OF their own tenn
pies. On the southeast the valley opens
out into wide and fertile plainJstretch-
ing down to the great commercial city of
Osaka. the Liverpool of Japan.
In order to get general idea OF the
city and OF the points of interest to be
visited It is necessary to ascend .hill
called Shogunzaka on the eastern side of
the city. This hill, which is crowned
with q clump Of trees trained in the form
OF ship under eail, is permanent land
mark. The ascent by tolerably fair SER
pentine road is easy and from the sum-
init there is charming view ofIthe city
and suburbs. The streets cross each other
at right angles, somewhat in the direc-
tion of the cardinal points which gives a
symmetry and regularity not elsewhere
observed in the cities OF Japan. But the
regularity is never formal or oppressive
- the union of practical convenience
and picturesque effect is successfully
achieved. About half way down the
slope stands tho temple of Chionin, foun-
ded in the twelfth century by the Jodo
sect of Buidhists. The monastery is an
imposing structure standing in the center
Of a large square. Long avenues lead up
to the main building from three gates.
one on the southern and two OH the west
ern borders OF the square, and along these
are built the houses of the priests, each
cultivating his own little garden in front
Of his building. In the rear of this great
temple are suites of splen did rooms, built
for the accommodation of the priests and
people OF rank who come from q distance
to worship at this far-famed shrine. The
guide who conducted me through the
temple called attention to the massive
planks of highly polished wood. with
which the porches and halls were fioored.
Underneath some OF these springs were
placed, which caused them to yield to the
tread. and by some sort of singular de-
vice tinkling musical sounds we're emitted
as the planks rose from the pressure of
the foot. Some times worshipers. espe-
cially those of the laboring class, who
have but little time, do not enter the
temple, but stand before it, bow the head
and repeat the prayer formulas. On spe-
cial days OF worship, however this is not
considered proper. and all enter ana pros
trate themselves before the Idol.
Hard by. in corner of the enclosure,
hangs the great bell of Chionin, which is
fourteen feet in height, nine feet in diam
eter, ,9and the metal at the lower edge is
nine inches thick The cam panile is
heavy wooden structure, in which the
bell hangs so low that could touch it
with my umbrella. Like all japanese
bells it is without clapper. and is
struck from the outside with q wooden