The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-13
- -------------- -
OLD TEMPLES IN JAPAN.
Buildings Many Centuries Old mt UJi
Contain Historic Relics of Price
less Value.

CONTAIN hlStOrtc nchcS "a INV
less Value.
Eliza r. Scidmore in The Chicago Tri-
bune.
Vii, May S.-The temple proper at
Uji the Kondo, has an image of Taku-
shi Nyorai. the healing Buddha. whom
the faithful pray to heal, in the next
life, mans miserable present existence,
that the next incarnation may be a
step higher and happier. The floor Is
of dark wood. polished by centuries of
rubbing until 1t shines like lacquer, and
in the cool interior 1t feels like Ice or
iron as one steps on it stocking foot
ed.
In the founders hall the images of
Kobo Daishi and of Rigen Daishi, the
sainted first Abbot of the temple. are
enshrined on the altar. The treasures
of the Daigo are famous and slowly
they show one the golden tokkos, or
small pronged maces. which Kobo Dali
shi used in celebrating temple services.
and the plans he drew for his mountain
top monastery at Koya. where this
Great Teacher Spreading Abroad the
Law" now sleeps.
A treasure of historic interest to
japanese scholars is the journals of
the abbots of the temple for the last
three hundred years. These precious
manuscripts are not opened to the vul-
gar. but they will show one a book of
paintings by Matahei. that first artist
of the popular school, who broke from
the classic and conventional schools,
and painted the life of the common
people. city street scenes. country road
life, festival crowds and humble folk
at work. Like all his works, these
paintings at Daigo are not signed, the
fact that has enveloped his personality
in 40 much of mVStprV and even made
some Oriental art critics declare that
Matahei. the individual never lived
that there never was such a one-an
opinion violently combated by certain
Boston and New York collectors who
have spent their thousa nds upon paint
ings that bear such stamp of genius
that one cares not to whom they attri-
butte them. Matahei, by any other name
surpassed his contemporaries, and led
to a movement that resulted in some
of the most feeling and appealing
works of japanese art.
Before reaching Iii one passes the
long white walls hiding the black roof
ed dwellings of the priests who attend
the Mampukigi, or Obakusan. famous
temple of the Zen sect, Obaku is not
three hundred years old as yet. but its
fame is great, and 1t always enjoyed
the highest esteem because of the
great learning and high scholarship of
its priests during all Its existence. 1t
was founded by Chinese priest from
preached at Nagasaki whence the
Foochow, who first came over and
fame and sensation of himself and his
teachings spread throughout Japan.
He was summoned north by the Sho-
gun, Iyetsuna, to explain his doctrines,
and then to the emperor. Gomizuno.
who had abdicatcd and absorbed him
self in the practice of the Zen sect of
Buddhism, interested himself in this
sainted Ingenosho. Shotgun and Empe-
ror made gifts to him, and this tenn
pie was built, with its many gateways
and pavilions. and long connecting cor
ridors and cloisters, in Chinese style.
Ingen and his early scholarly success
sors being Chinese retained the dress
of Chinese priests. The garments do
not greatly differ from those worn by
other Buddhists. but the Chinese cap
and shoes are distinctive marks of the
Obaku priests. The founder lived and
preached here until his eightieth year.
when he closed mis- eyes to the fifteen
beautiful views in the little landscape
garden he had designed by the abbots
residence.
The third abbot was an indefatiga-
hle hook collector, and assembled a
complete collection of all the manu-
script books on Buddhism known in
Japan. had the wooden plates engraved
and printed copies made. This fact
gave Obakusan distinct fame. All the
learned priests in Japan have at some
time made pilgrimage to this stone
hoored Chinese temple where Shaka in
golden glory, with Kasyapa and Anan-
da attendant, occupy the central altar.
and with the other disciples ranged on
either side wall furnish a company of
statues of unusual merit.
This great collection of wooden text
blocks was stored in a thick walled,