The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-12
Women waiting to worship
Imperial Coronation Process
sion in Kyoto.
Photo By Paul Thompson.

Fnoto " E8uI LuoSnpuou.
men. He ctrcmnavgated the ban.
ners and marched UP the middle, tax.
Ing up a position at the foot Of the
steps facing the Emperor. Here he
represented the japanese nation. His
Majesty read the imperial rescript
In a voice which though audible was
not loud. Count Okuma replied The
first sentences were shaky. but pres.
entity the veteran orator warmed up
and his voice rang through the whole
assembly as he asserted the loyalty OF
the Japanese nation.
At the conclusion OF his speech
the Premier walked over to the BAN
zai banner and gave three cheers for
the Emperor. This was to have been
the signal for all Japan to cheer. but
somebody had blundered, and before
the Count finished speaking the roll
Of cheers was heard from the immense
crowds outside. II was a trifiing blem-
ish, due apparently to the fact that
the cheering outside was arranged by
time instead Of by signal. Those
banzais concluded the coronation cere-
mony.
III.
An interval Of four days followed.
and In them only two small religious
ceremonies took place. The FIRST was
tho dancing before the shrine to
solace tho spirits Of tho deceased
rulers. the second IA very ancient and
obscure rite designed at one time to
q, -. sL~ .-S-&- 80 49, 1,x.l,<v yVvnpaVcv
and fit him to perform the solemn rite
of the Dai-Josai. No foreigners and
very few Japanese were present At
those rites.
The most solemn and mysterious
part cf the solemnity was held four
days after the coronation. The Japa-
nese name for this 10 the Dai-Josai
and it Is occasionally translated har-
vest festival. but 1t is no o the
home!y harvest thanksgiving of the
West than the mass Is a meal. II Ia
traditional. and the source of the rites
Is lost in tho mists that surround the
childhood of the race.
The ceremonies are obviously closely
related to some of the Oldest Gus.
toms Of mankind. Partly they would
seem TO no a fusion of sacrifice to the
unseen powers of the first fruits Of
the harvest. partly they illustrate the
primitive custom Of placing food and
drink by the grave of the dead CHIEF
or father. and partly there is the
thought OF the Emperor sharing his
coronation feast with the divine an.
cestors Of his dynasty.
The rites took place in a range OF
buildings situated outside of the pal
ace compound but stu inside tho
/ park. These buildings have described
befo 80. I had "A fair notion Of wha'
! would see. But ! had little notion
of the impression Of roughncss ant
primitiveness which the actual sigh
! of the buildings would arous The
others belong to another civilization
another age: these belonged to an
other world,
The first thing l saw when l Wis
tied the place n day or two befor,
the ceremony was "A couple Of whit,
pavilions outside OF the sacred en-
closure. In these the Prime Minister
| and other high officials were to wal,
and watch while the Emperor celc'
brated the mysterious rites within
The pavilions were plain enough II
all conscience-white sheds with row!
of unlocked benches-but the gulf be
tween them and the buildings within
the enclosure was unmistakablc ant
immense.
The implanted, unexpected contras
gave one a sharp realization of thu
centuries of toll and obscure misery
which separated early man from thu
affiuent iron age. when he had Learned
to make such tools as will smootl
ana shape wood.
Walls of plated PUSHES roofs o
thatch, posts. lintels and ridgepole:
Of unhewn pine trunks and branches
a maze of thrtched open corridors. {
few buildings with neither doors MOI
I windows-such 10 . summary o.