Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-15

came into the Yuki shrine from the
| bathing hall through 4 corridor COW
cred with pure cotton cloth and reed
mating. The nIattings were spread by
the ritualists before the Emperor as
he proceeded on mis- way and rolled and
removed by other ritualists after he
had trod upon them. Thus no mem
Der OF the rctinuc was permitted to
touch them with his feet. At the head
OF the imperial procession walked the
grand master of ceremonies and the
minister OF the household, and directly
in front Of the Emperor n chamberlain
walked with the sacred sword and
jewel
Close behind His Majesty walked a
chamberlain who held a huge umbrella
OF curious and ancient shape over the
head OF the Emperor. Another cham
bcrlain held the umbrellas Gordon.
When the procession. which included
the members of the Cabinet in court
costume. reached the vcranda OF tho
shrine. the chamberlain intrustcd with
! the sword and jewel mounted the step
and placed the sacred objects on n
table.
The Emperor then assembled tho
vcranda. and. entering the hail took
his seat on throne provided In the
room outside the inner shrine. The
lord chamberlain and chief ritualist
followed and snt on the inattings on
the southern veranda around the hall.
! The crown prince. the princes of the
blood. the ministers OF state and other
members of the rctinuc entered the
pavilion provided in the southern yard
of ft.A ch vi a h.i,.
Next entered the high officials OF the
coronation board. attired in ancient
ceremonial dress and wearing gold
swords at their sides. followed by a
band of court musicians.
Suddenly the silence of the night was
broken by the notes of flute. Then
were played popular songs OF the Yuki
district by the court musicians-an-
cicnt songs of fclicitation and joy
When the music was ended the crown
prince. princes and princesscS of the
blood and other members OF the i'm
perial family offered worship to the
deities of heaven enshrincd ut the Yuki
shrine. and subsequently the members
of the imperial rctinue and all digni-
taries and other participants offered
obeisance.
PROCESSION HEARING
SACRED FOOD OFFERINGS
When the crown prince. princes Of
the blood and other male members OF
the imperial family had entered the
fuki hail there came procession of
ritualists and maids of honor carrying
the sacred food offerings which had
been prepared in the cooking hall
The maids were attircd in beautiful
irt
varied colors, and each carried n wicker
basket containing food offerings and
utensils Five cisht-legged tables
bearing sake cups, sacred sake wine.
soup. boiled rice and all the food to be
tasted by the Emperor were then
brought in by ritualists. These prepa-
rations completed, ritualist beat
wooden clappers to announce the COM
mencement of the holy ceremony OF the
Emperor Offering food to the dcities
TO the strains of the kasura music, the
Emperor left his seat in the outer
room. and, proceeding to the inner
room, seated himself on the throne.
facing the seat OF the dcities in the
center.
Again purifying himself by washing
his hands. the Emperor alone and un-
seen offered the sacred rice meal,
sacred sake wine and other food to
tho spirits and deitics. No other per-
son was permitted to enter the pre-
cincts of this holy OF holics." Later
tho Emperor worshipcd before the al
tar. bowling in profound reverence, and
thon read prayer. Then he himself
partook of the secret feast. What else
took place in the forbidden precinct
Is not exactly known. Eventually the
sacred offerings were taken away by n
maid Of honor and escorted back to
the cooking hall by the ritualists and
maids Of honor In procession as before.
The Emperor, again washing his hands
with tho help OF n maid OF honor. re-
tired from the shrine and left the hall,