Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-09

religion In Japan and has stimulated Shin-
toism to remarkable degree. Streams of
people are going to and coming from the
temples at all hours of the day. Thousands
who had forgotten they ever had gods or
ancestors are now thronging the shrines to
pray for the intercession of one or more of
the deities in their pantheon In behalf OF
sons husbands or brothers who have gone
to the front. They pray for those who are
going and for those who are gone. Every
time news of a battle comes they hurry to
a temple to pray for their safety. and then.
after. the good news arrives. they go again
and again with offerings of Thanksgiving
that they have escaped death.
Kyoto is a sort of religious center for
Japan. 1t has nearly a thousand temples
the finest in the country. Many of them
are glorious examples of japanese ecclesi-
astlcal architecture. The city lies in an
amphtheater created by the Higashyama
hills. among the most beautiful of all Gre
alton. and along their base for several
miles temples and shrines of both the
Buddhists and Shinto sects, with monas-
teries nunneries, theological seminaries.
schools and other religious institutions, are
scattered one after another. sheltered by
some of the noblest groves you can imagine.
Everybody knows that Japan Is the lowell
est of all countries. Much of its loneliness
Is due to its forests and foliage. which eX-
tend to the heart of many of the towns or
inclose them like a picture in a frame
Kyoto is the most beautiful of all the cities
of Japan. which is largely due to its temple
groves and parks and primeval forests. 1t
Is my good fortune to take walk each
morning and evening, before and after
working hours. among these wonderful
temples and wonderful trees. and the most
interesting sight in Japan today is to
witness the faith of women and men in the
prayers they offer at the shrines and tenn
pies to their ancestors and the great war
riors of the past in behalf of loved ones
that have gone or are going to the war
The prayers are inscribed with India ink
upon little slabs of cedar or pine, perhaps
five or six inches long and two or three
inches wide. The corners are trimmed off,
a hole is bored at one end to receive
string. by which 1t may be carried and
each worshiper brings one of them in her
hand especially prepared for her by an
artist who is engaged in the business.
Little Prayer Boards.
Upon this little piece of wood is written
the name. regiment and other information
concerning the person for whom protection
is desired. and on the other side is the
name of the petitioner, with few words of
invocation and praise for the god to whom
II Is offered. The worshiper climbs the
temple stairs. drops a penny In the big
wooden box that always obstructs the en-
trance. pulls the cord of a big bell to
awaken the god. claps her hands. rubs her
palms together kneelS, whispers a few
words OF petition. Then she lays her little
slab of wood upon the matted floor before
the altar. and. kneeling again and offering
another prayer for what Is nearest to her
heart she moves slowly and thoughtfully,
sometimes tearfully. away After she has
disappeared the attending priest losses her
prayer board into a box, with scores and
hundreds like it. and l suppose if he is a
good man and believes in the religion he
teaches. that he wrestleS with that god all
day and all night as Jacob wrestled with
the angel and prays unceasing for the pro-
lection or the rescue of the loved ones who
are exposed to danger. Sometimes little
nag, an inch or two in size. is attached to
the string by which the prayer is carried
as If certificate of the loyalty of the pc
utiOner.
The Buddhist priests are doing a profta-
bie business selling charms that will ward
en- disease and death. Bushels yes car
loads. have been disposed of to the soldiers
themselves, or to friends who are inter-
eSteu In their protection. for Buddhism Is
a practical religion. Everybody feels at
liberty to apply for the assistance of the
gods IN whatever they want or need There
Is a particular god for every profession
am, anu occupation. and for every possible sit
uaunn and circumstance The wrestIers
nave their own temple and their own del
sies ana before tournament always pray
tUr strength and skill and triumph Wres-
srrn5 Iouri,dments are always held in the
sioulnS or the temple of the god that is
supposed to patronize them. -
Notwithstanding their education and in
.eiigence. the Japanese are very suner-
siitlous. No people place greater fajtbp -
charms and amulets not ever ~ aJi, Ia
or the Arabs 'he minus
how Lives Are Saved.
we nave seen several women with h.b,o.
strapped upon their backs-everv u,o,1ar, -,
the working class always has n b,h,,-.t..,
pea on her back-gong about tho s+rao,,
with strips of white cloth and sew,ns haas
stopping other women, and visiting house,
ana SHOPS one after the other as ~ ON
s"seu upon some important errand JTnon
inquiry discovered that they are seeking
assistance IN the preparation of charms to
prolect the lives of their husbands or SONS
VINO nave gone to the war They ASK every
-. i a.. .h.y KNOW or see TO sew stitch or
KNOT INTO the strip of cloth with dark green
Norsted and leave about half an i,cb %
the thread dangling When n strin 90
tains thousand knots OF colored thread
IL Is sent TO soldier who wears IL DC n
girdle around his waist and heIia,as .. "a
De as great protection against tho suords
ana bullets of the enemy as an armor Of
steel chain would be. VI
As you know the Japanesa bo,.o Wv, 80
ngions, Shinto and Buddhism aItbougb tho
FORMER Is not strictly religion or even q
pfhioSophy. but merely a manifesto tion of
.He ."o most predominating characteristics
ty. IL Is combination of spritualism rev
erence FOR ancestors. the worship Of the
einperors. heroes and wise men of the ma
non II Is purely Japanese In its origin Is
round In no other country and. as Hearn
mas said. 1T is the whole emotional life of
the race the soul of Japan"
its services are very simple and consist
oil the presentation of offerings and praises
ana prayers before tablets upon which the
names and virtues of the ancestors OF the
worshiper have been inscribed or at shrines
that have been erected to the memory of
sovereignS warriors. statesmen priests and
other men of influence and ability. These
shrfnes are scattered all over japan. They
are found on the right hand and on the
left of every path you may follow in the
forests and the fields In the valleys and
thu mountains. In the busiest corners of
cities. and everywhere that human feet
may tread Before each shrine or temple
stands a tori. the beautiful arch that is
characteristic of Japanese landscape and In
the country you can scarcely look In any
direction without seeing one upon the hill
side or along the roadway
In the Temples.
The temples very primitive. very
plain. and are built in imitation OF what is
supposed to be the original dwelling house
OF the Japanese Upon the altar will be a
mirror, which Is full of signieca,.a ha