Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-05-26
FEAST OF LANTERNS.
A Queer Custom Which is Celebrated Annually
in the Realm Of the Mikados.

by LUE F. VERNON.
On September LIST OF each year there
lie celebrated in Japan a curious cere-
mony, known as the Feast of Lanterns,
which is supposed to be formal re-
ception given to all the spirits OF the
dead.
Upon the first day of the feast, the
ghosts OF the departed are believed
to leave the spirit land, in order to
revisit their homes upon earth. On
this day, the head of each family, in
his best apparel, sits in the reception
room OF his house, the entra noes to
which are all thrown open. At fire.
quent intervals he bows tremendously
and utters words Of welcome, in order
that the spirits as they enter, may
not feel themselves to be neg elected.
This procedure is carried ON far into
the night, especially by such con-
scientious Buddhists as have numer-
Gus spirits to receive.
On the second day, all the spirits
are supposed to have arrived, and the
household temple-a small cabinet
apartment. which is TO be found in
the house of every believer in Buddha,
set apart for the use of the dead-is
gsily decorated with flowers and filled
with choice stores OF fruit, rice, tea,
wine and other delicacies.
The family of the house, sitting in
the room to which the spirit chamber
is attached hold high festival, eating
and drinking and enjoying themselves
after the Japanese fashion.
This feasting Of the living with the
spirits Of the dead continues through.
out the whole of the second day and
the greater part OF the third, but the
night of the day is the time appoint ted
when the ghosts must return to their
places in the spirit-land, aud, as the
evening draws on. the people, young
aud old, in vast numbers, betake
themselves to the burial places and
deck out the graves with bright paper
banners and many colored lanterns,
which are lighted soon as the sun goes
down and darkness comes on.
This decoration and illumination is
made as beautiful and brilliant as
possible, SO that the last view OF the
Earth taken by the departing spirits
may be pleasing and happy.
Toward midnight, as the time for
departing draws nigh, the male por-
tions of the people form themselves
into professions, every individual OF
which bears aloft lighted lantern,
suspended to bamboo pole about ten
feet long. and like SO many torrents
of fire pouring down the hillside, pro-
coed to carry to the sea the boats In
which the spirits are to return TO the
land whence they came.
These boats are made OF plated
straw, and are more or less elaborate
models of the ordinary native craft.
Each il decorated with flags and
streamers, and has stock of prOvis
ions aud money on bOard-the money
for the ferrisge OF the Styx.
The size OF these straw boats varies
from two to ten or thirty feet in length,
and they are all provided with one or
more lanterns 10 enable the spirit
crew to steer their course.
The procession having reached the
shores of the bay, and the lanterns on
board the straw boats having been
trimmed and lighted, the fragile barks
are launched upon the waters, and
sail away into the western sea, carry.
ing the spirits to that far-off land
where the sun and stars 60 to rest, and
where is situated that glorious Nirvana
where the spirits of all good Buddhists
pass the time in happy oblivion.
The myriad lights Of the boats scat
tered far and wide, dancing upon the
slightly rulfled water, make q scene,
viewed from a distance, OF almost fairy
enchantment. The cries OF the people,
the chanting OF the priests, the sound
of gongs, the music of many instru'
ments, the figures of the people flying
hither and thither 10 wild excitement,
blended with the shadows of the
night form altogether a picture i'm.
possible to describe, and which leaves
upon the memory an impression as oil
some wild, weird phantasmagoria.