Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-12-01


a misfortune, consequently nearly al
/ direct their pellets at the breast bee
cause the body there is larger and not
so liable to Doe missed. The result ls,
these statues are entirely covered over
/ with dried paper wads, making them
appear as though plastered with $50
/ many globulcs Of yellow mud.
Again every village IN Japan has
the shrine Of a tutelary deity who is
/ supposed to afford protection to the
/ Villagers. IL is either one Of the
NEUROLOGICAL gods or some historical
/ figure who has been deihed These
tutelary deitics are held in great ven
Grafton by the villagers, who consult
them and obtain their advice through
the medium OF oihCiating priests, cy-
cry time there is trouble, domestic or
| otherwise, and they also come 10 their
guardians 10 offer thanks whenever
they are favored by felicitous events
The relationship between the two Is
just Ike that of father and child. Tho
tutelary deity, as "A center Of relipi-
Gus faith and veneration, exercises
great influence over its pr0tegos in
shaping their morals and maintaining
unity and harmony among them. The
wonderful courage shown by Japanese
soldiers IN battle though primarily
to their loyalty and patriotism, still
I'm no small degree may be attributed
10 the feeling that the tutelary deities
are with them, and that they must
ultimately lead them 10 victory. But
this is not all, for the shrine Of the
guardian deity and its ground serve
the Villagers as common place OF
recreation and amusement. on oc-
casions of festivals Of the shrine, anna
teur wrestlings and theatricals, are
conducted on the grounds and enjoyed
by old and young alike It is bit
natural that in Il place Of such as
sOciations ties Of endearment should
become very strong Neither can
there be any manner of doubt that
these tutelary deities exert most
wholesome and beneficial influence on
the rural life Of Japan. 1t is because
of this good influence, that the gov
erning classes, from the emperor
down, are much in favor of pre-
serving the institution.
1t is difficult for a stranger to learn
what the japanese believe in the way
Of religion, for their beliefs and forms
Of worship are as many and diverse
as the gods they worship In religion
ms in other things they accept only
that which suits them. Their ten
dency is towards simplilication. That
l, III .
came among them. Leaving the study
of cXotcric Buddhism to the few
who We're more philosophically in |
clined, great efforts were directed to-
wards the propagation of the eXot-
eric doctrine, comprehension Of which
could be attained by all classes of
people. Even this has been further
simplified by the invention of easy
prayers such as those Of the Nembut-
su sect. How these easy prayers
agreed with the temperament of the
people may be seen from the fact that
they gathered in converts by the hun |
dreds OF thousands, but today the |
Buddhist religion of Japan is no more !
like the original faith than is our
Christian religion like their Shinto !
They have been listening to the |
preaching of Christianity steadily now
for fifty years, but it is doubtful IL !
there is one thousand real japanese
Christians in al, Japan. Every Chris |
tian missionary will tell you that It |
is extremely difficult to make any |
headway with the japanese. And why |
should this be so among a people who |
are so ready to initiate us in other !
things, that they will have them, even |
when they must get them by manu-
facture in violation Of patent rights? |
There is but one answer They do
not want our religion as it is preached |
them.