Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-19

The University OF Pennsylvania the
ether day had presented d IT, formally,
the magnificent collection OF oriental
treasures made by Prorelsor sommer-
Vile during HIS Aslatic ttur last year
The collection consists d various sac
red objects secured by bln from Bud.
dhist priests in the countrles he visited
And they are TO be placed n a Buddhist
temple In the sommeryle section Of
the university museum. IN "a claimed
that the collection Of spt cmens there
now 10 more complete than any in the
"Chrlstian" world. Not Snly can yisl-
tors to the museum obtain a good idea
Of the method OF worship IN Ruddhlst
communities, but Buddhlais themselves
may there perform their bets OF deyo-
ton, II they feel so inclined.
Among the images secured Is one Of
Irudo, accompanied by Kongara and
seltaka. Fudo Is surronneed BY DANES
to represent him oa Inyulnerablo and
without fear.
There Is also an altar which is an
exquisite specimen Of sixteenth CEN
fury carving Another beautiful OBJ
jet Is a vase Of bronze, 400 years old
The subject OF the sculpture is Of a
scml-rellgious character, the deep cor
iugation In the vase representing
clouds. The dogs are the sacred @shl-
shi'' dogs OF heaven, ana are emblems
Of power In Buddhism. ana frequently
called by collectors the Dpg Fo,' The
interviewer tassels represent the silk
tassels, such as decorate the sacred
scrolls, aud brass Kemans of Buddhist
temples. The vase Is particularly In
teresting as representing a most char
aoteristic style Of artistic treatment Of
the various emblema Of the Buddhist
creed, during the religious period Of
the Japanese people prior to their mod
ern civilization,
Another interesting figure Of carved
wood represents a personage, shotosu
Daishi. OF which Buddhists tell touch
Ing legend. as follows.
HE was the first son Of The Emperor
Yomei, and was born In the second
year Of the reign OF the Emperor Bitat-
su, 573 A. u, One day his mother, when
taking a walk, came to an old stable
IN the palace garden, Which she re-
garded with particular interest Thir-
teen months later the brlght-eyed
prince was born In that stable, There
was universal rejoicing the heavens
above manifested their delight so did
the earth below. When the prince
reached the age OF six an important
change had taken place. Korean
ambassador, Nichira, came Ia the pal
ace on mission. Nicflra, seeing the
young prince, fell at his feet and adj
dressed Shotolku Dalshi, with great re-
speot, saying thou Prince Of Peace,
King of the East, thou alone canst save
thy people," Twelve years he studied
diligently under Jikei, a learned In
structor. who came over from Korea In
695 A. ID.
zone day, being led by the spirit
Shotoku Daishi retired to the palace
Mu, where he closed the doors behind
him, and spent seven days and nights
In meditation and prayer, on the eighth
day, to his great surprise and JOY he
which tradition tells came over from
China by no human agency Again,
when he was meditating on the
book of Shoman, he was shown heaven
ly favor by the gift OF a lotus flower
with q stem about three feet long. He
died In 621 A. d., at the age Of 49,
His was life Of striking activity de-
yotlon and sympathy Though born
prince, he was lowly and meek at
heart ali his efforts We're ~ behalf Of
the great teaching, and for the spiritual
awakening OF men living In an age Of
pomp and war. Conservatlye and ig-
norant, they were antagonlstic TO his
mission, vet he was victorious, He
founded IN all nine temples among
them shiten- N0-Jl IN Osaka, and
Horiu-Ji, In Nara. These latter are
standing to this day, witnesses To the
untirlng devotion and activity Of the
Prince Shotoku Daishi"
The legend has an unmistakabe re-
semblance to certain well known
features in the history Of Christ, and
must be considered as evidence Of the
early influence Of Christianity upon
Eastern religious ideas.
There are numerous Other efIlgies,
around which interesting legends cen,
ter. II is a most valuable collection.
both from an ethnologic and theologic
point Of view
II does not hurt for Western Chris
tlans" to become better acquainted with
Eastern religions. They are too little
known, and therefore not estimated at
their true worth. We have no doubt
that those religions have filled very
important part In the mora Develop
ment Of mankind. They have not shed
the light Of truth in the same clcarness
and volume as the Gospel, but they
have led the devout heart to approach
the Fountain Of truth, and made plain.
the paths of duty that lead finally, to
exaltation. They have prepared the
way for the acceptance Of more truth.
here or hereafter. The morality Of the
Eastern world is not much lower than
that Of the Western. though The latter
boasts Of a purer religion, That fact
alone should render the study Of East
ern systems of worship one Of great,
interest. For whatever tends to good
Is worth knowing.
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
| -
Perhaps no branch OF the government