Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-01-08
THE TOMB OF IOYASU.
MAGNIFICENT JAPANESE MAUS0LE UNI
DESCRIBED BY DR.. EDwORDS.
Interesting Descrition Of japanese Religion.
Sacred Images. Temples. Reverence
for Ancestors. Etc.

4 ~--S~~'
for Ancestors. Etc.
Nikko, Japan. Jan. A, 1905. In my
last letter | told of the various por-
tions of the temple dedicated to
Ioyasu. All the splendor of those
decorations is forgotten when one sees
the tomb itself. which is of massive
stone. surmOunted by pagoda shaped
urn of finest gold. silver and copper
bronze. In front, on low table, are
a bronze incense burner, vase of
bronze with lotus flowers and leaves
of brass, and bronze tortoise sup
porting a stork. This ornament is
seen frequently in temples all over
the empire. and typifies length of
days. The enclosure is surmounted
by a lofty stone wall with balustrade,
and shaded by grand, old cryptom-
arias and luxuriant growth of azelias
and bamboo grass. This unadorned
tomb of the mighty shogun, standing
in silence and shade behind the splen-
did red lacquered temples raised in
his honor, is a stately finish to this ex-
quisite creation. Massive stairways
of stone, each gray with lichon, lead
to the tomb. each stone being fitted
with such exactness as to stand with
out morter the wear and tear of near
ly three centuries without slightest
displacement.
| The temples of Iemitsu. in close
proximity to those of Ioyasu, ara
reached by an avenue that branches
from the grand approach. On the
right are two temples of Shinto faith.
plain, but of much interest. On the
left is rod lacquered building dedi-
Gated to Amida in which are preserv-
ed the bones of Yoritoma. founder of
the shogunate. A flight of steps leads
to the gate, guarded on each side by
gigantic wooden figures painted bright
red. and standing in inches. In the
inner court is a massive water basin.
AS there is much misunderstanding
regarding the religion of Japan it
may be we'll to say something about
it. There is no Japanese religion in
the sense that we ordinarily under
stand the term. They worship no
gods. Japanese religion, or Shinto-
ism, is simply reverence for ancestors.
They do not pray to them nor do they
worship them. They deeply reverence
them and erect temples to them. to
which they make pilgrimages, not in
the sense of worship, but to do honor
to the memories of departed relatives
and heroes. There are no Japanese
gods, neither is there Japanese
heaven or hell. All these temples,
and the empire is covered with them,
have been erected in honor of some
one who has passed away. and whose
relatives, friends and admirers have
taken this means of honOring him.
Buddhism is taught by many priests
and is believed in by many Japanese,
but it is An imported religion and
does not belong to the people except
as it has been instilled into their
minds There are hundreds of Bud
dhist temples, but they are not the
ones on which greatest reverence is
layished. Buddhism as a religion ap-
peals to Orientals as no other religion
can, but Japanese put above all relig-
ion their reverence for their ancestors.
Near Yokohama the image of the
Great Buddha stands in grove and it
is most sacred spot. The first view
of this image is most startling. 1t is
composed of gold, silver, copper and
bronze forming figure nearly fifty
feet high. The mouth is three feet.
two inches wide, and all other parts
are in corresponding proportion. The
leyes are of pure gold. The head dress
is of snail shells of pure bronze, pro-
tecting the head from the suns rays,
and representing the love gratit ude OF
lanimals for Buddhas love and care
for all animals. The greatest figures
in the world are in Japan. The one
in the park at Nara is largest of them
all. but the one just described is con-
sidered the best work of art. Buddha
is always represented in sitting pos
ture, gazing over the plain, silent.
calm, impsnetrably mysterious. The
sacred figure i3 hollow and contains
small shrine. After we had inspected
it we came across the usual CONNER
cialism when the priest asked us to
sit on Buddha's thumb and be photo
} graphed. We graciously did so, paid
the small fee and left orders for pic
lures TO be sent us It : one means
of revenue by which the priests are
supported.
Clarence f. Edwords.
w. j. Bryan gave his famous lec-