Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-29

Shinto, however, is not religion, but
rather system of ceremonial observances
centering in the mikado. 1t recognizes life
beyond the grave, but knows no hell or pur-
gatory. The mlkado, as the god of Shinto,
must turn to the memory of his ancestors
when he wants something to worship. At
least this is what the good books tell us,
but those who are so fortunate to occasion
ally get glimpses into the home life of the
ruler of the Japanese know that a. tiny
atom of royalty, Prince Micchi, a grandson
of the mikado, is far greater idolized than
all the emperors who have controlled the
deStinieS of Japan since its existence be-
came known to the civilized world. So much
for Shinto, or Shintoism, to Americanize
the word.
What Buddhism Is.
Buddhism is made up Of many sects, each
holding different views. For instance, some
believe in the utter humiliation of the soul,
and others In it's separate existence, but as
part of the divine. In addition to the Bud
dhists and Shintos, there are about 10000
Christians in Japan. or course, those pro-
Tossing this faith observe Easter and Holy
Week in a modest and transformations man
ner, for while freedom Of religious belief Is
guaranteed in Japan Christianity has not
become well enough established to faunt 1t
boldly before the pagan muititudes. AL
though Japan is studded with temples, to be
strict, her people are not religious. Their
attitude toward the supernatural has been
described as a mixture of fear and fun, -
but just where the fun comes in I am una
BILE to say. Each Buddha is enshrtned in a
small pagoda temple, at the top of multitu-
dinous steps. Usually the shrines are $50 or
300 steps above the streets; sometimes the
number is increased to thousand. They
are arranged in tiers, averaging about twen-
ty steps each. At the top of each tier there
is an arch of type peculiar to Japan and
the orient. I imagine that II we Americans
lit ,oI, fofr in
order to attend divine services the study Of
Christian theology would of necessity be-
come obsolete, and dust and cobwebs would
accumulate in every nook and corner of our
sacred edifices. But the solemn little Jap
seems to regard this a test of the guam
tity and quality of their Buddhism, for they
chase themselves up and down these Jacob s
ladders three or four times week in
order to ring bell clap their hands and
throw money at the feet OF big bronze
idol. This thing of elevating the soul and
mind and body to higher planes is all right
in a way, but when you have to hoof 1t up
800 stone steps every other day in order to
accomplish this much-tO-be-desired eleva-
ton it is high time to forsake the faith.
April. in addition to containing the day
which is so devoutly observed by the Bud
dhists, is known throughout the empire as
1.-The fiesta MONTH" 1t is the month Of the
cherry blossom, when the picturesque is
lands seem to don their party clothes and
hold themselves proudly before all who
care to look. Unless this month CMarch)
brings news of disastrous defeat to the
army or navy, April of this year will be
the most joyful in the annals of the couE-
try. The welcome greeting, "ohio," will
be heard in every valley and on every hill
and the mikado will drive, bareheaded,
ace grounds, and at OI=.ura he will. in all
probability. address the reserve army which
Is gathered there. The urbanites go on
pilgrmages into the country, and the rurals
of city life In Tokyo, Yokohama and the
larger cities. banners, large paper 1sh and
decorations of every conceivable description
are displayed outside the stores and private
dwellings,: the children trot along merrlly
on their wooden shoes. and the earth itself
seems to exhude happiness
The Present War.
Many American newspapers have laid
great stress on the fact that the present
conflict is between Christian and nom
Christian people," Although this is true
to a great extent at present. 1T should not
be accepted as anything significant, nor
should it be allowed to swing the senti-
ment of the civilized world Within the
past decade Japan has made great strides
from strict paganism to religious freedom
She has done what no other Asiatfc nation
has ever done, adopted constitutional
form of government. and thus secured en-
trance into the family of western nations
upon terms of equality. This much is his
tory AS to her future, every economic
student is of the opinion that she must
adopt the religion of her commercial rivals
and profess Christianity to the ultimate
exclusion of Buddhism, Shintoism and all
the other pagan 'isms" that have for CEN
turtles retarded the progress or these X an
KEGS of the east"
The truth is that the Japan of today IL
neither Christian nor pagan, oriental nor
occidental. She is in state Of religious
-;4l ~,nfv fr1rn q md n
stands hesitatingly upon the threshold OF
permanent progress. There are many con
flicting forces all fighting for supremacy
over the Japanese mind. The inevitable
Christianity is everywhere evident: Bud
dhism is still struggling for its ancient
footing: Shintoism is making last grand
rally, but the appeal of Its priests and
demagogues is falling upon. disinteres.ed
ears Significant of this religious evolution
Is the apparent disposition among broad
minded and practical secularists to welcome
all the benefits of a Christian civilization
without pledging. Christianity itself; TO. ac-
cept a quasi-Christianfty without aeknowl-
edgng the personal Christ.
Japan is energetic and persistent. hhe
Yields an enormous influence over China,
an6 If success attends the arms OF the
mikado in the present war with Russia.
there will be inaugurated in the Chinese
empire social religious, commercial and
Industrial evolution which will rank with
the most stupendous economic movements
in the history of the world. The language
OF the two countries is not dissimilar; their
sympathies and social destinies are ident-
ical Korea is the connecting link in the
oriental triumvirate, presided over by
japan. The revelry and gaiety now I'M
pending in honor of the birth OF the great
Budlha is calculated to diminish year by
year until the Christmas of japan Will no
longer be in April but in December, and
the wisteria and cherry blossoms of April
will be the symbol of a Christian Caster
tide. w =.