Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13
THE MIKAD0 OF JAPAN
CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTHDAY
OF EMPEROR MUTsUHITo.
Mythical Legends Concerning the
Foundation of the Empire-Quaint
Thoughts and Habits.

From the Shanghai Mercury, November g.
Mutsuhito, the Mikado OF Japan. whose
birthday the japanese celebrate today. has
the proud distinction of being the hundred
and twenty-first Emperor of Japan. Tie
mythical legends connected with the
foundation of the empire b. c. eco are
quaint and full of interest. 1t is supposed
that an eclipse Of the sun was taking place.
when the people deplored the loss Of their
sun goddess, whom they declared had re-
tired to a darksome cave. All prayers to
her to return being In vain, the people
adopted willy course. Presenting that the
goddess was not proof against all the fail
ings of womankind, they placed a polished
steel mirror at the entrance of the cave
then informed the goddess that IA more
beautiful being than she was had descended
from heaven to rule the country Unable
to restrain her curiosity. the goddess peeped
out of the cave to see her rival, who they
told her was standing at the entrance
There she beheld her own beauteous form
in the mirror, and with gratiied vanity
once more shed her luster over Japan
Descended From the Sun.
From her sprang the imperial line Of mi
kados, hence the worship called Shintoism.
which is a form of hero worship Many
Shanghai residents who have visited ia
pan will doubtless have noticed the marked
difference between the ornamental Bud
dhist temples, swarming with idols. and
the plain matched roof Shinto temples.
with one mirror inside, sole object of wor-
ship. combined with defica ton of dead and
living heroes. The name Japan is said to
be corruption of the Chinese word
Zipangn, which means literally the land
of the rising sum-" The national flag rep
resents the sun with its rays, while the
merchant flag sets forth the sun as a red
ball on a white ground. When the present
emperor assembled the throne in the spring
OF 1865 the great revolution in Japan was
effected, and the emperor invested with
sole power. instead of as heretofore the ex-
istence of kind of dual monarchy, which
consisted of the emperor and the Shotgun
Daimios and Samurai.
As far back as 1865 Sir Harry Parkes. 50
We'll remembered in Shanghai, advised the
japanese against the evil of this dual form
OF government and himself deferred to the
emperor only. 1t is notable that when In
March of 1868 the present emperor received
in audience all foreign ambassadors. the
British envoy. Sir Harry Parkes, was pick
ed out for assault by two fanatical Samurai
as he was proceeding to the palace, who
wounded nine of the procession before one
of them was killed, and the other severeIy
injured. The power of the great feudal
lords, the Damios and the redoubtabIa
Samurai. practically terminated with the ac-
cession of the mikado in 1868. All the we'll
TODD families in Japan still practice the
me sword exercises Tor which the Samurai
were SO deServedly famous. In Japanese
shops in Shanghai We can see copies of
the ancient armor still used for this pur-
pose. Not infrequently the officers of the
Japanese merchant vessels visiting this port
may be seen on shore clad in proper armor
and performing their warlike exercises with
exceptional skill.
Emperor's Oath.
The present emperor on his accession took
oath before the assembled court mobiles and
daimios that he would establish the founda-
ton of the empire according to the five prin-
ciples laid down.
1-Government based on public opinion
2-Social and political economy to be
made the study of all classes.
3-Mutual assistance among all for gen.
eral good.
treason not tradition. to be the guide
of action.
5-Wisdom and ability to be sought after
in all quarters of the world.