Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-14
Like Comic Opera Are the Three Weeks of Solemn Ceremonas
With sacred Mirror Brought Down from Heaven by the Sun
Goddess Sacred Sword That Was Left Behind the Body of
Toxic, Japan, Oct. Is.

Iokio japan, Oct. 10
~ lRPASSING in barbarc ceremonials and super.
sttous rituals all the coronations OF his an.
cestors for several centuries. the coronation OF
the present Emperor Of Japan will be marked by the
revival of customs dating back twenty centuries. The
coronation ceremonies. extending from November 7th
to the 26th. are announced the imposing and
spectacular celebrated In the empire. Connected
with the coronation rites contrast to the
customs OF presentday civilization. and indeed gro.
tesaue even in modernized Japan.
With food representing all the eatable products OF
land and offered the dead ancestors OF the
Emperor and the conveying OF the news OF the i'm.
pera succession to the spirits of the dead this
nation villas 1t is desgned-symbolize to what
degree. internationally and unchangeably the empire
in spirit clings to Its barbarlc past.
In when Japan. for ages one OF the most back.
ward OF nations has adopted the customs OF cviliza.
tion and completes in commerce with the greater pow.
aspiring 1t may be. the domination of hemis.
phere this revival OF archaic and uncivzed ceremo.
malls Is not without purpose. however. All of the be.
dlzened trumpetry tnselled peraphernalia mubo.
jumbo rituals Of the past marking the present cere.
monies are designed to impress the people OF Japan
with the ancient history Of the EMPIRE divine orr
gin and guidance Of the Emperor and the superior
prestige over all other nations of the little almond.
eyed people whose kingdom. believe was born of
the rays Of the
The Emperor of Japan stil asserts his heavenly
origin and. however modern the Japanese have be-
come they still supposed to believe that his first
ancestor was the Sun Goddess herself. The imperial
power comes. therefore from heaven and must be
greater than that OF any other sovereign of the
common clay of earth The Empire OF the Rising Sun
ceestally begoten. mus: lose sight OF Its SD
periority over other nations and bear in mind what
the sacred sword left earth and still used in the
ceremonias sgnifes-that this empire Is destined by
its gods TO subjugate the earth.
All OF this-in an OF electric roads, electric lights
flying machines and competition in world commerce
the coronation Is designed bring home to the
people They may adopt the vulgar utilities OF the
west, but they must not forget the prophecy made
"hen the Sun God slew the Great Dragon and won the
sacred Sword They may utilize the scientific maryels
OF the genius of Europe and America but only for
'her advancement 10 the end that old auglry NAV
not ran with grotesque ceremonies attending the
assumption by the Emperor Of the Sacred Mirror
sword and Jewel, with the curious visit to tombs and
inc reneraton of the dead and the giving OF ancient
symbolic dances there will be quite modern ba nouet
"'.t' he coronation at which foreign represent ives
WI pe entertained at about SO 600 600 and
here VIII be alsoas sign OF the up.todate spirit of
me people-an aviation meet in which japanese Gvars
WIZ compete for prize
iht Coronation called In Japeoese Co T,i,si ar
sI'e2' ceremony. begins the Emperor lea vas
TOXIC on November and proceeds in state to Kyo,o
""e'c 'he dynasty ruled for than a thousa nd
Years taxing with him the ksshiko pokoro or Apces
'fa' oHtihe or the Imperial Palace Arriving a, Kvo,o
on !Ho'ehbcr Z. the Emperor, os,entatious procas
SION Wil drive from the railroad station 10 the Milo
ra'ace' the Ancestral Shrine following This nrocos
SION IS the chief OF the ceremonies visibc IN tho
seheai public The Ancestral Shrine Ia deposl, oh in
ohuhkoyden or Sanctuary. where the Sh;nto rit.o
appI!t'hR inc DEAD OF the coronation will n. hold
'"e uedu al inns time are supposed 10 take no nm
"'se ~ me news but to appreciate the courtesy and