New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-06
:STUDY OF THE JAPANESE
MRS FREDERICK W. VANDERBILT OPENS
Her HOME FOR A HISTORY CLASS.

nxrY LADIES LISTEN TO A LECTURE ON JAPAN
BY MISS eEoRGINA ROBERTS, OF THIS CITY.
Had It not been the morning hour. would have
thought Mrs Frederick w. Vanderbilt was holding
q reception Yesterday at her paatal home No. 459
FYfth-ave so great was the number OF private car
riages In waiting. The occupants had come to lis
ten 10 the lecture Of Miss Georgna Roberts on "a
Study OF the Japanese" the last lecture OF the pres
ent course and the spacious drswng-room was
crowded.
Mrs. Vanderbilt received all corners as cordially
as though II was her own social function.
II is safe say lecture in this course has been
more thoroughly enjoyed than that Of yesterday.
for during her travels in Japan Miss Roberts. who
Is quick TO and keen to critcise. learned many
valuable things about these wonderful people. and
her Of recital Is not only logical. but bright
and vivacious, adding color to her descriptions and
illustrations.
Miss Roberts regards the Japanese people among
the most interesting in the world but difficult to
understand, because Of their lack Of strong per-
sonality. This is due to their having matured
under different influences
In studying the past" she said. I'VE find what
an important part religion has played In moulding
japanese character and art. and these religions
have been three in number Shintau gave to char
: and simplicity and pafnstaking; that Is
why these people are great in small things
Buddhism gave to art its wealth of ornamental
ton coloring while the ethics of Confucius has
done much in determining the character Of the Jap
anese
I'm the far past the natural religion held sway
as in Russia, and possessed such vitality that
Shaimanism. the worship Of good and evil spirits.
Is found to-day IN Japan. An Illustration of this
was given In the New Years custom Of expelling
the devil from the homes
lone Of the old priests carries a wand in his hand
On this is head Of Jizo, the special god Of little
children. The head is hollow and filed with small
a.,
evil spirits. enter good spirits. the holder scat
ters dried peas in the four of the room.
These are gathered up by the housewife and
fully preserved till the first clap Of spring thunder
comes. Then they are made into a SOUP Of which
the whole family partake and the devil is van
pushed"
When the men known TO history as the Yamatos
came to Japan they brought an advanced knowl-
edge OF agriculture. feudal system Of government
and superior religion-the Shintau-which was ex-
tremely simple. II had temples priestly
caste. only che article Of faithFear the gods and
worship them'-but later they introduced the
political element by adding Obey the Mikado and
reverence him.. and this principle the Empire
rests to-day.
They taught that the Mikado was not earth born,
but descendant from Amaterasu the sun goddess
and the belief In this divine character Of the ruler
has been potent in as the belief In the in
fallibility Of tho Pope in Europe
This religion taught purity Of body and mind
because FOR them the gods see everything and IL
also made them express great reverence for their
ruler"
The influence Of Buddhism was explained by
the three great waves Of foreign infuence-frst in
the third century. when they invaded Corea and
obtained from her new civilization in arts science
and religion second in the sixteenth century when
the Portuguese brought the Catholic religion and
lastly, the influences Of to-day when all the world
Is knocking at her door
The lecturer illustrated in q delightful manner
m
the social relations OF life which called the Ave
relationships First. between the ruler and the SUBJ
5ects, which is Kun-Shn. or loyalty. They will
readily die for the ruler. a superior principle
but TO love one higher than themselves they con-
sider impertnence.
The second relation is between father and son.
ana implies reverence. The third Is between hus-
band and wife, but Is always secondary to the love
Tor parents. and implies absolute obedience and
cand would consider IL beneath his dignity TO at
tsnd the funeral of his wife, and the same dis
Snction is drawn between elder and younger
0tosher In the fourth relation
Inc NTH relates 10 friends who must be trea ted
xitn courtesy and propriety, but there Is no hint
o. That brotherly love which Christianity teaches
among the higher class the religion is Pantheisc
~nich teaches that Ki is spirit, not personal. but
owels in everything-earth. air, trees and flowers
s1o came to consciousness in the soul OF man.
IN conclusion Miss Roberts thought might
courtesy and kindness of were especially
commented upon. while their sef-control is simply
marvellous II Is said such a thing dangerous
'unatc has never been known.