Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-10
FOREIGNERS SEE
FIRST CEREMONY
Stately Rites in Preparation for
Coronation Of Mikado Held in
shunkoden Hall, Kioto.
SEVERAL AMERICANS PRESENT


and the representatives OF the people
of foreign lands were present today
at the coronation Of mikado. when
Yoshihito. son Of Mutsuhito, as
cended the throne OF Nippon.
The ceremony OF this morning was
a ritual service of ancestor worship
and was held in a specially erected
hall IN the palace grounds known as
the shunkoden hall, where was en-
shrined the sacred mirror brought
from Toxic. The shunkoden was Of
plain, unvarnished wood and CON
sisted of an outer hall, inner hall and
shrine. II was simply decorated. In
deed, simplicity dominates the corO-
nation ceremonies. The decorations
were those Of shintolsm, the religion
adopted by the court. which is more
pronouncedly series Of rites than
religion pure and simple.
Al the appointed time the two gates OF
the outer nall ''kenrei-mon' and
'ksnsnunmon." respectively. facing south
and east. were opened for the reception
of those allowed to attend the grand cere-
mony.
Then arrived the guests. distinguished
officials. civil and military. mobiles, the
members OF the House Of Representatives
and the Houso OF Peers the diplomatic
corps and other disnitaries, accompanied
by their wives.
severnI Americans Present.
The United States was represented by
Ambassador George w. Guthrie and Mira
Guthrie. By Post Wheeler. the first secre-
tary OF the embassy, and Mrs. Wheeler:
by Colonel James A. Irons, tho military
attache. and Mrr. Irons, and by Captain
Frederick j. Horne, the navai attache,
and Mrs. Horne.
Great Ceremony begins.
At a given signai the chief particle
pants in the ceremony seated themseiveG
in Japanese fashion on cushions resting
on the floor or mating Then the pound
ers OF gOngs and drums beat their instru-
ments three times by way OF announcing
the commencement Of the ceremony. Led
by high court officials ali those present.
including civil and military officers and
the diplomatic corps, who had assembled
in the antechambcr. rose and entered
tho main hall. All these people were
reated also. There was a period OF Inn
presaive silence, suddenly broken by
strains OF music. The steady. clear note
of the japanese flute was succeeded by
harmonious rofter strains. symbolic OF
sanctity and Joy. This was the kagura or
shif.to music played by the court nu-
slcians. As the chords filled the air the
doors OF the imperial sanctuary were
slowly opened and tho ritualgts placed
sacred offerings before the altar This
over, the chief rltuaiist, majestic In flow
ing robes and wearing the stiff oval bon
net OF the fhinto priest. knelt before the
, altar and then rising read the "notrito''
or ceremonial address announcing to the
soul OF the imperial ancestress. Amater-
nsu Omikami. the beginning of the grand
accession or coronation ceremonies. An
other profound silence. 1t was the pre-
cursor OF the srpreme moment, and this
was the stately entry OF the emperor and
his s1te. The grand master OF eere-
monies the minister OF the household.
and two chamberiains preceded his ma
jesty and each chamberlain boro a sacred
object. one the sword and the other the
comma-shaped jewel necklace. Following
the emperor were the lord chamberlain,
Chamberlain. chief aides-de-camp, aides
de-camp and at a short distance the
princes OF the blood. Count Okuma, the
prime minister; the lord keeper OF the
privy seal and the chief coronation com-
missioner.
Emperor Acknowledge GreetInG.
All rose az his majesty entered and
bowed low as he slowly made his way
toward the sanctuary With stately mods
10 right and left the emperor acknowl-
edged the respectful greetings OF the
court. his people and the ENJOYS from
foreign lands. The emperor was a strik-
ing vision in a pure milk-white robe OF
gloEs silk. The color white IL always
worn in ritual services. being symbolic
OF purity and s@nctity. On his head the
emperor wore a SILK coronet OF imperial
shape which WAS fastened under the chin
with bands Of silk.
The emperor accompanied by the
chamberiaiDs holding the sacred sword
and jewel seated himself on a dais at
the inner side Of the hall The sacred
sword and Jewel were placed on stands
beside him. The divine mirror had been
previously enshrined In the sanctuary.
which was decorated with bamboo blinds,
silk portieres and silk curtains. The
cmperor's seat was square mat
uVIUtftu WIN ufotauc woven 4ittTnAIlty
with vertical lines and floral patterns.
The princes and princesses OF the blood
and other members Of the imperial
family stood In row IN the southern
gallery OF the hall. the prime minister.
household minister. lord keeper OF the
priyy seal. lord chamberlain. grand
master OF ceremonies and maids-of-honor
standing behind the members OF the I'M
perial family. The CHIEF aide-de-camp
and aides-de-camp who were In full
military dress stood nearby. Thus was
set this historic picture Of old Japan
in marvel OF costume and maize Of
color.
Emperor Reads Address.
After a brief interval the emperor rose
and facing the imperial sanctuary read
an address before the Kashlkodoro an
nouneing his coronation as the ls2d
ruler Of the japanese empire and its de-
Tendencies and his acquisition OF the
sacred treasures. Then he murmured a
prayer beseeehiRg tho protection OF his
empire by the imperial ancestors. Tha
prayer concluded. the emperor took the
sacred bell held BY a chamberlain and
rang Il before the sanctuary according
70 shinto ritual When the emperor had
resumed his place on the dais, the crown