The true northerner., 1898-01-05
NEW YEARS IN JAPAN
GREEN ARCHES DECORATE EVERY
PORTAL.
The Ship of Wealth and Seven Gods of
Fortune and Happiness-Japsn's Venus
and Santa Clsus-Oid Man Of Longev-
ity-Quaint Legends of Antiquity.

reason of much festivity and innocent
mirth. Every portal is decorated, and
each object of which the decoration is
composed has symbolic meaning. The
usual form of the decoration is a green
arch. On the right is placed a small
pine tree with reddish stem and on
the left one with black stem. Fancy
has attributed to the light one femi-
nine and to the dark one masculine
sex. Also this hardy tree symbolizes
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 the pines-about
six feet-is spanned by a 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 the iakara- bune, 1.-THE ship of
wealth, a 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 at
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, the next figure, is the heav
enly protector of priests and the special
patron of all who wish to become expert
swordsmen, horsemen and scholars. He
stands, armed cap-a-pie, grasping long
spear in 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 she can
grant them good fortune more swiftly
than the flight of an arrow from the
bow. ="
Near to this oriental man is Benten,
the Venus of the company comely
woman, holding a stringed instrument
of music, the emblem of harmony. Ac-
tors and people who make their living
by amusing the public look to her for
attractiveness and ability to acquire
wealth.
Hotel, the least dignified of the sew
en-, but the greatest favorite of the
populace at large, is supposed to have
been priest, remembered for his portly
form, his love of children and for a
large cloth bag, which he always car
ried. He is the japanese Santa Claus !;
merry old fellow whose heart retains
a boyish freshness Notwithstanding the
wrinkles on his brow, sharing with zest
the sports of children who take liberties
with him as with playmate and claim
him as their own. His bag always full,
may be put TO many uses. 1t may be a
bed upon which he can rest his limbs at
night, or a receptacle for the thousand
precious things which he has gathered,
or trap for little boys and girls who
are enticed inside TO see the marvellous
things it is supposed to contain, or the
treasury from which he dispenses gifts
discernment, with eyes i'll the back of
his head, and able To see around cor
ners, he can easily distinguish the good
from the bad.
Ebisu, short figure with a jovial
countenance is the guardian of markets
and trades. He is the third son of La
nagi and izanami no mikoto, the crea-
tors of great Japan and the progeni-
tors of the mikado, but he reflects little
credit on his illustrious parentage, for
he is cripple. He is represented in
pictures as sitting by the sea on rock,
with a fishing rod in his hands and a
large red tail, the turbot of the japanese
banquet, under his arm, and OH his
head cap worn by persons of rank.
Daikoku, the god of wealth, is a
short, stout, well TO do looking figure,
standing upon pair of rice bales, hold
ing large mallet in one hand and with
the other grasping the mouth of bag,
filled with wind, slung over his shoul-
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 rat with which he
sometimes amuses himself The moral
is, human nature is prone to ambition,
therefore low figure and humble atti-
tude are most befitting it. The bag
slung over his shoulder represents
wealth, hard to be acquired; like the
wind, not easy to be 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 the realities of
life without which there can be no sue
cess. The mallet is the 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, is
the duplicate of Fukurokuju. He is rep
resented as a venerable man of digni-
fed bearing, clad in long robes of by
gone time, bearing fan and supporting
his footsteps by crooked staff from
which is suspended a manuscript roll,
while by his side are the stag, the stork
and the tortoise, emblems of longevity.