The morning times., 1896-11-15
Saint
George.
Japan's

IL was the god, Isanagi, who, after many
other gods had tried their hands at II,
finally succeeded in creating the dry land.
Standing on The rainbow, wnichIs the fioat-
Ing bridge OF heaven, by which the gods pass
To and fro, he plunged his FISHING spear, up
PED with coral, into the depths OF the sea,
and brought up Win it the Island OF CowaJi-
With his bride, lsanami, he made the tour
of the new island afoot, lie going one way,
she another: when they met, and lSanami
did not wait until she was spoken to, but
addressed her lord out of her Iurn. lie very
properly insisted that they should per-
form the journey over again.
The second time he spoke first and pro-
posed that from Uwaji as starting point,
they should proceed to create tac o,ner
islands Of Jauan, which was done safely
and in good order. Afterward when Isana.
mi PASSED away and deeCenueu 10 The
underworld. her loving husband followed.
but was obliged TO return without her.
While purifying himself by bathing i'll the
sea, gods were born from every part of his
body and from each arlic.e ri his clothing.
Among them. there was born from his
eyes the Sun Goddess and the Moon God,
ana IIum the Drcaun -, BIs HvsIIIIS the
violent God OF Storms, SusanoO.
Hardly was he in existence when this We
hemcnt divinity entered into contest with
his sister. the sun Goddess. II am more
powerful" said he, for l can send my
soul out OF myself whatever 1 WILL And,
with that he blew Il great breath, ami lis
soul went out upon 1t, even in the pres
ence of the Goddess. But she, without
an effort, breathed forth soul after soul,
and Susanoo had to acknowledge himself
conquered.
The sun goddess was not wholly reas-
sured by the punishment mcted out to her
unruly brother. She shut herself up in n
cave in Mount Iwato, and suddenly the
world became as dark as before she was
created The other gods hurriedly got
together incouncil. the ymet, IN ade speeches
and voted in the dry, grayelly bed OF the
stream of heaven tthe milky way: and il
was decided that the goddess must be
tempted back by music and dancing. and
presents of fine clothes and jewelry. But
the sun goddess would not stir from her cav
ern until she sYas gid that there was god
dess outside >rsFf more resplendent and
beautiful than herself. Curiosity and pique
then led her TO open the don OF rock a
little. and when the mirror was held be
fore her eyes and she heheld her own
glorious features reflected in it, bewilder-
ed and abashed, thinking that IL was an
other sun she saw, she allowed herself to
be drawn forth by the strongest of the
gods.
Meanwhile, the banished Susanoo was
winning fame and bride in the land of
ridge that runs at the back of IZunio
he fell in with family of earth-god who
were in most distressful circumstances.
They complained TO him OF a great eight
headed serpent who had already devoured
seven of their daughters, and was about to
come fer tie eighth and last. and a pretty
young goddess named Inada.
Like st. George in similar case Susanoo
CALAMITY volunteered to fight the reptile:
but he stipulated that he should have the
lovely lnada for wife. This condition
was Joyfully acceeded 10 by the young lady's
parents; and. advised ny his future son-in-
law, the earth-god placed before the en-
trance TO mis- stockade eight large Jars of
rice spirits, while Susanoo assisted his
princess 10 mount high pinnacle within
so mat when the great serpent came each
head should see her reflected in one of the
Jars. This done, the storm. god drew his
sword. a present from his father, Isana ri.
and calmly awaited the adversary.
lie had not long to wait Soon the mons.
Ter appeared, his huge body trailing along
over eight mountains, and crushing down
the forest trees like grass. When he ar.
rived before the stockade he below ed, Won
may he sure, with all his eight throats. for
the victim, who trembled On the pinnacle
TO hear him, Will e her fat her rendered brave
Dy Susanoo'S presence, told the serpent he
would have to search for her THAT wiIl.-
said the serpent and his sixteen eyes soon
lit upon the row of Jars. "Aha!'r cried
the first head, here she is as il spied
the charming image In one OF them. And
mere she Is again. quoth the second. be.
holding her reflected in another Jar. "Welll
the more the merricr,' cried all the eight