The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-01-25
JAPANESE TEMPLE OF IS I
Imperial Ancestor Represented by Divine
Mrror--Incentive to Patriotism.

The recent visit of the Emperor OF
japan to the temple of Ise to report 90
the First Imperial Ancestor the sue
cessful termination of the war with
Russia brings into prominence what
must always be regarded as the strong
est national force in Japan, says cor
respondent of the London Times.
In connection with the worship of the
First Imperial Ancestor there are three
places set apart These are THE Tenn
pie of Daijingu at Ise, the Kashikodo-
koro in the Sanctuary of the Imperial
Palace, and the Kamidana, which is to
be found in every house" In the first
two places the Imperial Ancestor is
represented by a Divine Mirror. The
mirror was given to the First Imperial
Ancestor, so tradition says, accom-
panied by the injunction that her de-
scendants should look upon that mir
ror as representing her soul and should
worship it as herself
Originally the Divine Mirror was
worshipped at the Imperial Palace, but
was later removed to the temple at Ise,
it's place being taken by duplicate.
Although all the people worship the
first Imperial Ancestor at home, they
look upon it as a necessity to visit
the temple at Ise at least once during
a lifetime. It is to the Japanese peo-
pie very much what Mecca is to the
Mohammedans. From the temple at
Ise radiates out the system of ancestor
worship. which finds a place in every
home in the land. The two sacred
places in every Japanese house, says
indiana or ''god-shelf," and the Butsu-
dan or Buddhist altar The first
named is the Shinto altar, which is a
plain wooden shelf. In the center Of
this sacred shelf is placed a Taima or
O-nusa (great offerings), which is a
part of the offerings made to the Dali
jingu of Ise or the temple dedicated to
Amaterasu Omi-Kami the First I'M
perial Ancestor.
The Taima is distributed from the
temple of Ise to every house in the en-
pire at the end of each year and wor-
shipped by every loyal Japanese as the
representation of the First Imperial
Ancestor. On this altar the offering of
rice, sake, and branches of sakaki
tree (chyera Japanica) are usually
PLACED, and every morning the mem
bers of the household make reverential
obeisance before it by clapping hands
and bowling; while in the evening lights
are placed on the shelf. On this shelf
is placed in addition the charm of
Ujigama, or the local tutelary god of
the family, and, in many houses, the
charms of the other Shinto deities also.
In the Shinto household there is a
second god shelf or Kamidana, which
is dedicated exclusively to the worship |
of the ancestors of the house. On this |
second shelf are placed cenotaphs bear |
ings the names of the ancestors, their !
ages and the dates of their death.
These memorial tablets are called /
Mitama-shieo,' meaning representa- |
ives of SOULS" and they are usually |
placed in small boxes shaped like Shin |
to shTines. Offerings of rice, sake, fish,
sakaki tree and lamps are made on this !
second shelf as on the first.
In the Buddhist household there is,
in addition to the Kamidana, a Butsu-
dan, on which are placed cenotaphs !
bearing on the front posthumous Bud
1hfst names and on the back the names !
used by the ancestors during their life
time. Offerings of flowers, branches of |
5hikimi tree Ollicium religiosum), tea,
rice and other vegetable foods are
usually placed before the cenotaphs,
while incense is continually burned,
and in the evening small lamps are
lighted. The Butsudan takes the place
Of the second god shelf of the Shinto
household, both being dedicated to wor-
ship of family ancestors.
Every household in Japan has def
1itely stated occasions for the worship
Of ancestors. There are the sacrifice
lays, which are the days in each month
to the day of the ances-
-ors death; the sacrifice months, which
ire the days of the month correspond
ng to the day and month of an ances-
or's death; and the secrifice years,
which are the certain years in which
IN a day OF the month corresponding
% the death of an ancestor celebra-
ions may be held. Participation in