Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-08-21
old sH|N70 R|7E|HOW PUEBL0s LIVED
Fire Walking Practiced by An.
Gent Religious Sect.
Believed In Japan Ceremony Antedates
Human Family, the Gods Having
Observed Il In Their Progress 81
Toward "Perfect Purity"

Human Family, the Coos 7aV'h0
Observed Il In Their Progress #
Toward "Perfeet Purity"
"Hiwatari," or the miracle of fire
walking" is one Of the Oldest religious
rites of the Shinto sect, which they
claim ia Indigenous to Japan. Buddhism
was imported from India via China
and Korea. The nation is not divided
into two distinct sections, however, az
the teachings are SO thoroughly inter
fused that the number belonging ex'
clusively to either is comparatively
small. Every Japanese child at birth
is placed by its parents under the pro.
lection of Shinto deity. The Shinto
religion is compound Of ancestor
worship. and nature-worship, and does
not give any ethical teachings beyond
"obeying the decree of the emperor
and following the natural impulse OF
right" ,vG4 49,
"Shinto" is a. Chinese word mean
ing the way Of the gods" There are
gods and goddesses innumerable:
Goddess Of the sun, and god OF the
moon, god Of the wind, fire and food,
of the ocean, mountains, rivers, trees
and temples. The rite of fire walking
is believed to antedate the human fam.
lily, the gods having observed 1t in
their progress toward perfect purity
which is the fulfillment of life. 1t Is
observed twice annually, and was wit
messed by the writer on a recent visit
to Japan at the Temple of Ontak,
Kudan.
On two sides OF the temple court a
platform was raised overlooking the
court and seats reserved for the en-
bassies and visitors to witness this
most ancient and interesting ceremony.
In the court, which is holy ground"
the pyre was built on strictly pre-
scribed lines and Of purest material.
First layer of straw which was COW
cred with sand from the seashore care
fully screened to insure purity, then
logs or sticks of pine, and this was
covered with charcoal about twenty
inches deep. .>r. ".-. .s'-
The bed was about seven feet wide
and eighteen feet long. This was light
ed in the early morning and was
famed continually with long-handled
fans and whipped with thin boards un-
til it was glowing mass of live coal.
The ceremony begins at dusk and Is a
prolonged affair Yhe temple priests
dressed in white march around and
around tanning the ash always to the
center, and casting handfuls of salt,
which they take In passing from q
large bowl placed conveniently near.
At each end of the pyre canvas
mat is spread covered thickly with
salt, on which the priests rub their
bare feet They breathe incantations
with peculiar swishing sound SO for
eign to our ears, and stop at frequent
intervals to gesticulate, twist their I'm
gers and spread their hands out over
the fire, urging the evil spirits to de-
part. 1t was weird scene, and one
which claimed our closest attention.
Finally the chief priest entered,
dressed in long loose robe with flow
ing sleeves and fastened at the wrist
with a, girdle. He walked devoutly to
the end of the pyre and, bowling his
head low over his unclasped hands,
dedicated the pyre to the god and
prayed him to descend on the bed. A
prolonged pause ensued; then priest
struck spark from flint on steel, and
1t was supposed the invitation was &C
copied.
The chief priest walked with calm
dignity across the bed, followed by the
other priests, apparently oblivious of
the tremendous heat which seemed un-
bearable to the spectators 80 feet
away. The crowd pressed forward
and participated, old and young, chill
dren being carried or led by their par
ents and the very aged carried on the
shoulders of young men. 1t was GER
tainly a most i'm lressive ceremony, as
they all seemed possessed with a GER
tain religious fervor that made them
unconscious Of burns.
AS they walked so calmly, occasion
ally one would pick up his foot and
hop along; then he would seem to re-
member it was an acknowledgment of
impurity and he would place his foot
firmly down and walk on. II they are
pure in spirit, they are immune and
can traverse the bed with perfect safe
ty; and this rite Is the test Of perfect
purity. 81.
While the procession was in progress
the travelling companion of the writer,
an American girl, slipped away un.
noticed and appeared in the arena.
Gathering her clothes closely about
her, she walked on the bed of Goals
fearlessly and absolutely without burn
Ing. When the audience realized it
was a foreigner making the test they
gave her a tremendous ovation. On
inquiry If she found 1t hot, she replied
that she did not linger long enough to
test the degree of heat. 3
The Japanese theory is that the
spirit OF water descends from the moon
and drives the spirit Of fire from the
Goals; and the lesson taught by the
rite is that evil may be driven from
the heart of man and only good sur
vive The only explanati0n Of theiy.