The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-05

VI uHO peOpie ana tn0 WOrl0 ana tells
them the same thing.
In a pavilion a throne Is erected
under an eight sided canopy. In from.
OF the pavilion. in n courtyard covered
with clean sand. quantity dressed figures
are ~marshalied In regular lines. Two
trees in pots flank h steps leading to
the pavilion. a score or moro Of banners
are planted In rows r~eotangularly TO the
pavilion. In equally rectangular rows
stand picturesque persons carrying bows
and arrows. shields and swords. Here
and there In geonetrical relationship
to the banners n the bows and arrows
are little groups OF individuals In ranks.
These arc royal princes. envoy eNtraor-
binary. ministers and generals. It is a
veritable color print. a piece Of China,
a tapestry depicting an Oriental scene.
Al the stated moment a figure, cynosure
OF every eye. appears In tho pavilion
from a private entrance and disappears
under the canopy which covers the
throne. Chamber.airs draw aside the
purple curtains. Behold your Emperor (.
Imperial majesty rises TO It's feet, shall XVI
or ceremonial baton In hand. All be-
holders bow low. Then from the ranks
In the courtyard n venerable figure steps
forth. clad In silk kimono OF ancient cut
with vast swelling sleeves. His head is
shaved as clean as an egg shell. II Is
Count Okufna, Premier OF japan, and
representative OF sixty millions OF loyal
subjects. He advances to the pavilion.
mounts the steps. and reads an address
TO the seated Emperor. Returning to
the ground he stands under the "Banzai"
banner and leads the way In the cry OF
"Banzaf'-'May YOU live 10000 years"
That Is the coronation.
still more interesting. more character
istic. more incomprehensible. In the cere-
mony Of the Dai-josai on the fourth day
atterward. The term Is untran.,a.ablc.
Japanese to whom ! AVE spoken find IL
difiicult to say what they think IL IL.
II "a an offering to the gods It is a feast
tho Emperor shares with the spirits OF
his ancestors II 70 symbolical. It is real.
and 80 on.
The Sacred Rice.
The sacred rice Is grown in fields from
which evil spirits nave been driven. II
Was planted by virgins and tended by
pure youths. Archaic precautions against
defilement are taken through every stage
OF the process from the rice field to the
altar. The offerings are rice and sake
bread and wine. The Emperor LAYS
them before the shrine and partakes Of
them himself.
The Dai-josai begins at sunset. A.
dawn the temple IL decorated by the at
tendants. II consists of two sheds or
huts of plain wood rooted with thatch.
the roof tree being an unhcwn log. and
fenced with reeds. Tit boards are bound
together with twigs Of the wild vine.
At tho appointed hour the doors are
opened n twenty officials, wearing
short robes of light blue. a loose tunic
with long train, inner and outer trousers.
a jewelled belt. a sword and a Nat CULVER
with arrows. take their places as the
guardians OF the gate.
The sacred seat for the gods - placed
re~yerently within the s~anctuaries and
the chief priest and his assistants step
into the huts and begin a long and elab-
crate ritual. Coarse and fine silk arr
laid on the oblatory table. then tape-s
are lit and watch fires are kindled OUT
side. Then priests and officials rlaoe Of
ferings IN the corridor leading into the
shrine. The offerings include a stick Of
white wood. a wash hand basin. A pair
OF chopsticks. a towel. a jug. fresh rush
mats for the divine oblations and for
the imperial foo which the Empero o
will eat when all is prepared. a box Of
dry viands. a box OF those small trays
on which the japanese serve their food,
a bowl OF seaweed broth. two sake cups
OF coarse. unglazed ware. an eight legged
table for sake. an eight legged table for
rice cruel. an eight legged table for
imperial food.
Gongs beat and reeds play weird
music, The Emperor enters the hut, un-
lined cloth being spread under his feet
as he walks. and an attendant holds an
umbrella made Of rushes over his head.
Pho sacred treasures are carried In. The
Emperor Is alone In the sanctuary. offers
the divine oblation to the spirits. reads
an address 70 them. bows low and then
eats OF the food which has been placed
there. The offerings arc next removed and
the Emperor withdraws. Tho ccremon
Is Immediately repeated IN an adjoining
shrine. lest any hitch or omission should
have marred the first celebration. and
Il closes just before dawn.
Tho Japanese coronation takes YOU
back not TO the beginning Of a dynasty.
an era, or a e!vilization-it takes you
hack 20 tho dawn OF history. to the
thoughts and emotions OF primitive man.