The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-12-29
NEW YEARS IN JAPAN
GREEN ARCHES DECORATE EVERY
PORTAL.

FORTUNE anu hhppiheHs- JhphnH venus
and Santa Claus Old Man of Longev-
ity Quaint Legends of Antiquity.
In Japan 1.-The glad new year is n
season of much festivity and Innocent
mirth. Every portal is decorated, and
each object of which the decoration is
composed has symbolic meaning. Tho
usual form Of the decoration is green
arch. On the right is placed small
Pine tree with reddish stem and ON
the left ono with n black stem. Fancy
has attributed to the light one femi-
nine and TO the dark ono II masculine
sex. Also this hardy tree symbolizes II
| stalwart age that has withstood the
storms and struggles of existence. Close
| to the pines on either side are set grace
full stems of bamboo, which, rising erect
| with succession of rings, forms fit
| symbol Of hale life and fullness of years
The distance between tho pines--ahout
| SIX feet-is spanned by grass rope,
sufficiently raised to admit of passage
beneath it. This, according to its SYM
bolic purpose, debars all unclean and
evil things from crossing the threshold
Among the decorations hung in the
arch is tho iakara- bune, "the ship of
wealth, miniature ship of twisted
straw, in which are seated the seven
gods of fortune and happiness. The
names and functions of these seven gods
of fortune are worthy of attention
Fukurokuji, the first figure which ut
tracts notice, is an old man with very
tall head. He is known as the ancient
star of the south pole, the luminary
which presides over human life and by
its appearance announces peace to the
world.
Bishamon, tho next figure, is the heav-
emily protector of priests and the special
patron of all who wish to become expert
swordsmen, horsemen and scholars Ho
stands, armed eap-a pie, Rrasping n long
spear isl his right hand, while in his
left he holds miniature pagoda which
contains the soul of the devout Those
who pray TO him are told that che can
grant them good fortune more swiftly
than tho flight of M arrow from the
| bow y
Near To this oriental man il Benton,
the Venus of the company, n comedy
woman, holding IA stringed instrument
of music, the emblem of harmony Ao-
tors and people who make their living
by amusing the public look To her for
attractivepess and ability to acquire
wealth.
JVotat IA. laaet Ji,Y,,fGnI g Ia.
en-, but the greatest favorito of the
populace at large, is supposed to have
been II priest, remembered for his portly
form, his love of children and for Il
large cloth bag, which he always car
riod He is the Japanese Santa Claus
| IL merry old fellow whose heart retains
n boyish freshness Notwithstanding the
wrinkles on his brow, sharing with zest
the sports Of children who take liberties
with him as with n playmate and claim
him us their own His bag always full,
may be put to many uses. 1t may be n
bed upon which no can rest his limbs at
night, or II receptacle for the thousand
precious things which he has gathered,
or trap for little boys and girls who
are enticcd inside to see the marvellous
things it is supposed to contain, or the
to all good children; for he is Of keen
diseernment, with eyes in the back of
his head, and, able to gee around cor
ners, he can easily distinguish the good
from tho bad.
Ebisu II short figure with II jovial
countenance, Is the guardian Of markets
and trades. He il the third son of LA
nagi and Izanami no milsoto, the erea-
tors of great Japan and the progeni
tors of the mikado, but he reflects little
credit ON his illustrious parentage, for
he il cripple He is represented in
pictures rs sitting by the sea on rock,
with "A fishing rod i'll his hands and a
large red tail the turbot of the Japanese
banquet, under his arm, and on his
head cap Worn by persons Of rank.
Daikoku, the god of wealth. is Il
short, stout, well to do looking figure,
standing upon pair Of rico bales, hold
ing large mallct In ono hand and with
the other grasping the mouth Of a bag
filed with wind, slung over his shout.
der He is painted blue, the color Of
heaven, wears black cap the crown
of which projects forward over his brow,
and is attended by a rat with which he
sometimes amuses himself Tho moral
IL, human nature is prone to ambition,
therefore low figure and humble atti-
tude are most beftting IT. The bag
slung over his shoulder represents
wealth, hard TO be acquired like the
wind, not easy to DO controlled and
ready to escape, therefore to be held
fast. The cap coming well over the fore
head prevents too high looks and keeps
the eyes intent upon tho realities OF
life, without which there can bs no sue
cess The mallet is tho symbol Of labor
| by which wealth is acquired and the
bales Of rice on which he stands show
that he Is the patron Of agricultural
prosperity. All classes Of the people
honor him, and his image is in every
house.
| Jirojin, the seventh Of these gods, il
the duplicate Of Fukurokuju. He is rep,
resented as venerable man Of digni
fed bearing, clad in long robes Of IA by
| gone time, bearing fan and supporting
his footsteps by crooked staff from
which is suspended manuscript roll,
while by his side are the stag, the stork
and tho tortoise, emblems of longevity.
These seven diyinities, like the nino
muses., are thus charged with functions
of great import in relation to the lower
world. Their names are woven into
| cradle songs, to the sound Of which
many japanese child is hushed to his
earliest infant sleep This song is used
especially to announce the rowing into
port Of the treasure ship, with the sew
en- gods Of fortune aboard, ON New
| Year eve.
| ----------
Honesty and Virtue.