The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-08-28

copper ul1gree. bronze images ana lOtuS
leaves, gongs and drums placed Upon
pedestals or hanging from the roof.
gilded streams, portraits of famous
priests, and quaint pictures in the jap
anese style representing scenes in the
life of Buddha and Nicherin, who seems
to have been a sort Of St Peter.
The altar was a pyramid Of rather
gaudy decorations, candlesticks, and
paper flowers, with nlyriads Of candles,
burning incense sticks and bundles OF
paper prayers before the images of dif-
ferent gods. On the summit and in the
eel ter of the altar is a massive efigy
Of Buddha. wearing the invaria BILE
ccraplacent smile. The peasants think
it is solid mass of gold, but it is only
a block of wood gilded. At the right
of the altar. behind gilded doors, is a
similar image of the sainted Nicherin.
The priests came from their retiring
rooms in long procession. marching
awkwardly and unevenly, some with
long strides and some with short, and
their faces furnished most inte rest
ing study for physiognomist- Some
were gross and gluttonous; others wore
sanctifed expression. as It they had
acquired the supreme. ambition of
every Buddhist, which is the entire
suppression Of the passions and the en-.
joyment of holy calm. Some were
old and toothless; others were young,
almost boyish. Several had strong.
intellectual faces, others were almost
.idiotic in their expression, and it did
not require Lavater to decide that all
sorts of characters have found their
way into the Buddhist priesthood.
The procession was led by priests
who wore robes of distinctive color
and fashion, handsomely embroidered.
Then came two acolytes bearing trays
that were covered with napkins, which
they afterward placed on the altar.
Following them was the high priest,
who wore a long white beard and
looked like a patriarch. He is the
bishop of the largest Buddhist diocese
in Japan, and is reputed to be q man of
proper life. profound learning and
great influence in public affairs. His
robes were gorgeous brocades, scarlet
and purple and gold. lie carried an
elaborate lacquer staff Like crozier'
and horse-tail switch, which is used
in the distribution Of blessings 1t is
waved before the image of Buddha and
then over the heads of the worship
ers to distribute the benefcent infiu-
cuce of the god through the atmos-
phere. The other priests wore robes
of different colors, which seemed to in
dicate their rank - white, yellow,
green, purple. blue and scarlet. Some
were embroidered and some were plain,
and every priest carried In his hand
folding fan, which he used frequently
through the service. We counted two
hundred of them. and there were many
more.
The high priest knelt in front of
reading desk before the altar and NUT
tered a prayer. switching his horse.
hair wand to and fro at intervals,
while the other celebrants took their
places in long rows at either side of
the altar, facing each other and squat
ting upon their heels in front of low
lacquer tables covered with boxes. 1
noticed that the tables corresponded in
color with the robes of the priests.
There was strong odor of incense as
the high priest led chanted service
from a parchment roll spread out be-
fore him, and a muscular monk over in.
q corner beat a suspended drum about
the size and shape of whisky barrel
with an instrument that looked like
baseball bat. Whenever he struck the
drum the priests chanted the sacred
formula of Nicherin: Manu- milo Ohio
renge kyo," which literally means:
GLORY to the Book that brought saliva
ton, the blossom OF religion"
The high priest then arose from his
reading desk and, followed by the AGO.
lytes bearing something on lacquered
trays that was concealed under en-
broidered covers, took his place at the
other end of the aisle under an i'm
mense red umbrella. His attendants
threw over his shoulders scarlet robe,
and then, as he touched a gong, all of
the priests lifted the covers from their
little lacquer tables and disclosed piles
of books-the sacred gospels Of Bud
dha. Then. under the leadership OF
the high priest, they commenced to
intOne the contents of these volumes
in concert. while two or three priests
struck gongs occasionally, first one
and then another, without any ap-
parent regularity or order, but sup
pose they understood their business.
AS the gong would strike, the mo-
notonous intonations would swell in
volume, as il the sleepy ones were
aroused to more zeal in the tedious
service. Then the muscular monk
with the baseball bat would go over
and pound the big drum awhile with
an energy that showed that he was in
earnest. They told Us that the terrific
racket which he made was intended to
attract the attention Of the gods, and
he did his best to keep them awake.
Occasionally an attendant brought the
high priest tea, which he drank in
swallow, while the sing-song, sing
song of the service went on. 1t lasted
for five hours continuously. We got
enough of it in two.
This is said TO have been one ot the
most solemn and momentous core
monies that have ever occurred =
SC - sra-c Y 80 C@-lc9
Japan. and is believed to have brought
into the Buddhist paradise the wander
lag souls of all the soldiers who fell IN
the war.
Another remarkable service was held
Ia this same temple in 1889, when the
same priests chanted a similar litany
fOr the raooSa IF the souls of the sail.