The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-01-13
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of the curtains with his cane, he was
followed and assassinated by devo-
tee, and the latter s grave became itself
shrine The wood of which these
buildings are constructed is made into
relics for pilgrims, the sbrines being
torn down and renewed every twenty
years.
The patriotic aspect of Shintoism is
shown bv the fact that in lsc are dis
PLAYED cannon captured at Port Arthur
and during the Chino-Japanese war. and
other war relies are common votlve
offerings at the lesser ehrines. Pure
ShiDtoism Is an abstraction; in prac-
tiCc il PLAYS upon popular crcdullty ana
need. Here at Yamada are two sacred
horses, which the spirits of the ances-
tors ride. and sacred horse is an ad-
iunct to each of the large shrines
throughout the country. To iced inns
horse is an act of merit.
Before one approaches the shrine at
this place-right at the corner of the
sacred incosure. 10 be cNact-ls large,
shapcless stone. said to have been once
an image. but now worn smooth by the
constant rubbing of afflicted ones VINO
think thereby TO heal their diseases.
have seen pilgrims polishing it with
their hands, aud then passing the hands
over the part Of their person which Is
nilinp. There arc also two sockets IN
rock here where pilgrims afhicted
with sore eyes bathe. The same thing
is found al most large temples e'ther
GhInto or Buddhist. and | have seen
moro than one idol with his face rubbed
Of by sufferers from toothachc or head.
ache.
a Shrine for Lovers.
Among the numerous charms which
have gathered mp at japanese tenn
"a.
and good fortune in estate, arc three
from the imperial shrine al. lse, which
cast the municcnt sum Of 2l2 cents
| for the three. THESE adjuncts Of Jap,
snpse worship are Of interest and OF
! inheritance as veil. for they illustrate
the statement, often made, that re
| I;oion here seldom rises beyond an
| oynectatiou of material dement's TO thc
living and safety to the dead,
Al thc temple at Shlogama. For IN
stance there is orc IDOL who is the
rar,icnlar friend of lovers. The
screen about his pedestal is covered
wirb hundreds of wis2s of twisted pa
rer. The idea is hat If ono MI Writc
| the name Of the person whom, ne o.
| she wishes 10 MARY on SnP o. pam.
and then tic it with one hand to the
screen the PRAYER viii hc granted. II
| ,bo one.haDdcd feat cannot he per.
| Fnrred ,ben the coveted object viii
ro. bc attained The sight is more
rntbetic than curious when ono re-
members what little part either tne
Elections or desires cf the individuals
nost concerned play in japanese
marriage,
Spit Ball Prayers,
Akin to this is the practice of
rrit;nr Out PRAYERS and then chewing
them into soit bal ana tnroWlng
h,..-
rroYor is answered One rather hand,
somc idol that | recently noticed had
, iorce spjt ball in his eve seriously
,arrinn his good looks. l, IS com,
mon 10 throw stones into the laps OF
| tbc IDOLS. or into the big stone lanterns
Mt temples, and if they land safely, INC
oravor is heard. At NikEo is~a sma
sbr;na thc roof Of which is covered
| n the breaking point with wooden
/ eIabs on which are written PRAYERS for
an easv childbirth. Shrines eSpcclaIlN
devoted to wives desiring children are
abundaut and popular all over the
Islands. And, iud"ing from the num-
Der of children that swarm ID eenTIl e,'i;l
| village and city, these prayers are fulIy
""STe 0ne Of the most pathetic temples |
bovo visited is the children s temple
NJ Osaka. which is filled with the
clothes and toys Of dead children;
| given as votlvc offerings pN pg'e' sed
6arcn,s. The humdrum. mechanical
manner in which the attendant priest
droned out prayers and rang me nell
| ~ hebo1f Of two parents who brought
IN ~ Offering while I was there made
ave ,,n want 10 lay hands on him Near
@ bv is peculiar device for offering
o1o,icrs o1 for the dead The name is
IpUr;iiten on n thin shaving of wood, and
then placed in large stone cistern IN
| IL eorn, of q turtle, into which sacred
IN .a,cr is constantly running, Dcvotees
take fake great pains to have the wood