The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-11-09

retrogression in the fundamental ele-
ments of national life and growth. In
] 1871. of the young men liable to mill
tarv duty 50 per cent showed the
necessary physical qualifications; this
year the percentage is as low as thirty.
/ OF the soldiers that fought in the re-
cent war the vast majority were sons
! of farmers. The samurai class, the
swordsmen of feudal times, would not
come under military discipline. Some
of them went as coolies, for large num-
/ bers of men had to be taken as burden
bearers: and to this lawless turbulent
set is attributed the guilt of the afro
cious barbarities committed during the
war. This class, however, it is, that
are largely employed as policemen, and
because of their higher feudal rank
are more feared than the soldiery by
! the mass of the people. 1t is from this
! class. too. that come the sohis, the
! heelers, so to speak of the modern
Japanese politicians. Judging from
what I read in the papers they are very
much like the hoodlum element of our
American cities, young men grown up
without training or inclination for in
dustrious habits They have, however,
the lawless spirit engendered by the
medication of yamoto danishi, the pa
triotic spirit, partisan spirit rather,
that shouts, my" country every time;
wright or wrong, my" country.
We have visited some of the famous
Shinto shrines, and seen some of their
religious ceremonialism and symbol
ism. must confess the more / see OF
il. the less 1 like it, and the less | care
to study into its esoteric meaning. 1t
is too much like studying the old Ha-
waiian "meles." and the meaning of
words and phrases that are sinking
and have sunk into depths of oblivion,
whence it is worse than useless to call
hack their shameful significance. AS
I see Shintoism in its present condi-
ton. even, shorn of many of its old
emblems, once publicly displayed, 1t
is the acting out, in yelled symbolism,
of what the Hawaiians sang in "mele,
or represented in the hula" and
what heathenism is in the depths of
its degradation opens before me as a
dark abyss from which turn my eyes
to the light of Gods revealed truth in
profound thanksgiving for the grace
and glory therein made known to every
soul that seeks in ways of righteous
ness communion and fellowship with
the Holu One of Israel, the Redeemer
of the World.
More of the interest of actual life
and reality was found in visit to
Nara. once the imperial capital, and
the headquarters of Buddhism, than to
the visit to Nikko's mortuary shrines.
Buddhism did not so much supplant
Shintoism as combine with it, just as
Japanese Shintoism traces its origin
back TO Monaghan Shamanism, which
we have changed into Lamaism, by
the infusion of Buddhistic teachings.
The prayer of the Lama faith re-
sembles the Japanese universal prayer,
which we hear in all the temples,
Manu- amida Butsui" "All glory to
the everything Buddhai" The Lama
devotees repeat and repeat the phrase,
'Aum mani pad me hunt" which is
supposed to mean, God, Jewel in the
Lotus! Amen"
The temples and shrines like the
Jewish idol worship, are in groves on
the hill sides. The Nara temple site
is more like an open park, the grass
growing freely amid the scattered trees
and the deer browsing without fear
of visitors, or coming up at the call
of the vendors of cakes, 'Koi Ko!"
TO be fed. if the cakes are paid for.
The avenue leading up to the temple
is made more weird by the queer shap-
ed stem lanterns that stand in double
and triple rows on each side. The sight
must be still more weird on the oc-
casion of the great procession of oiden
time when every one held its lighted
candle
We saw the dancing of the Kagura
priestesses, now performed as a show
by two young girls in the traditional
| costume accompanied by the droning
sing song and flute playing of two
priests whenever the requisite amount
of money is paid. Indeed the whole
/ business now seems a money getting
affair for the few attaches left of the
once numerous priesthood. You buy
paper charms for few cents, you pay
a cent for the privilege of humping
I the big bell, and buy a ticket for per-
mission to walk around the big image
of Buddha, Is feet high, originally set
up on its pedestal 1850 years ago. 1 do
not give any description of this Dali
butsu. the guide books, and travellers
/ tales will give figures and sentiment
! 10 every one who wants exact informa-
ton. I have not any idea of writing
up this country, and only give brief
transcript of personal observations and
/ impressions.
On either side of the bronze image of
Buddha are gilt images of the Goddess
Mercy and the God of War; but wheth
er I have got the sex correct, or the
things or attributes they symbolic,
cannot tell Authorities are as con-
fiicting in the explanations given of
the objects of worship as are the diff
ferent genealogies given on the differ
ent islands of Hawaiian chiefs. In one
corner of the temple is an image of
Ema-o, or Yama-rajah, Ruler of the
Buddhist Hill. His staring eye and
brandished sword, and features swol-
len with rage may well brighten the
children, when they are naughty and
mothers tell them they must look out,
or Ema-o will be coming for them.
The image was peppered white with
spit balls, prayers on paper chewed
and thrown at this hideous image. II
the paper pellet sticks. it is sign that
the prayers will be answered.
/. We saw the autumnal procession to
the shrine of Hachimon. A huge frame
work, draped in red and green, and
black and yellow, topped with similar