Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-15
Emperor Yoshlhito, Alone and I'm
seen, Performs Solemn Ccrc-
monial ut Kyoto.
CHIEF RITE OF CORONATION
In Primitive Huts OF Thatch and
Reed, and Preceded by Many Pre-
Iiminarics, Japanese Ruler OBJ
serves Thanksgiving Festival.

Many Japanese regard this ceremony
as the eliminating and chief rite Of all.
since through 1t the Emperor receives
the confirmation OF his hereditary right
to dedication.
All activities in the empire were
suspended. and the day was observed
as q holy one The people for the most
part remained within their houses pray
ing. The festival was strictly limited
to Japanese.
In Japanese the ceremony is called
'Daijosai" which translated implies
Grand Harvest, or Thanksgiving Fes-
tival." The ceremony proper pre-
coded by many prelmiparics. including,
that Of yesterday. when prayers were
offered for the longevity OF the imperial
house. and the sending this morning or
imperial messengers TO each Of the l72
Ehrincs throughout the empire TO notify
the spirits of the imperial ancestors
that tho grand harvest festival was
about to begin.
stil another preliminary held in the
morning was the offering OF food before
the imperial sanctuary in the Shunko-
den hall OF the kyoto palace. a cham
berlain and n maid of honor represented
the Emperor and Empress in ancient
costume.
Prior ALSO to the festival proper was
held ceremonial dedicated to inviting |
the spirits Of the deities OF Heaven and
Earth to come to their respective !
shrines In the Daijo halls. These two
shrincs, the Yuki dedicated TO the dci- !
ties OF Haven. and the Suki to those OF
Earth. were first purified and then
decorated. Several hundred military
and naval officers of distinction. peers
and other dignitarics assembled at tho |
waiting hall. All were attired in fun |
ceremonial dress, the Japanese women /.
wearing the ancient cour, robes
WEAR CEREMONIAL DRESS
OF ANCIENT COURTIERS |
The crown prince. princes and prin- |
cesses OF the blood and other members !
"f the imperial family then entered the |
pavilion temporarily built for their re-
cept!on. Presently the Emperor came |
in. followed by his rctinue. The guard |
Of honor. consisting OF picked officers /
and men from the hodyguard troops !
were arrayed outside the main gates Of /
the shr!nes. score OF coronation OIL /
Gals proceeded TO the toril or Shinto |
gates nt the four sides OF the grounds |
and took their posts as the guard OF |
honor They wore the elegant ccrc- /
monial dress Of ancient courticrs II |
consisted OF "A short robe OF light blue |
color. an unlined garment, II loose tunic |
with long train, u sleeveless under |
garment, a pair of inner trousers, n
pair OF outer trousers and a iewclcd !
belt; sword with n broad girdlc. 81 hat !
auivcr with arrows. bow. pair OF
shallow shoes, and "a consecrnted |
surplicc. on their heads the guards !
wore n coronct with a pcnnant Of silk |
nad ut bn
Gals in similar costume took their posts /
on the right and left of the tori. CONF
plotting a fascinating picture OF ancient
Japan.
On a stand were placed sacred shoes
OF pure gold hrocade and bedding with
sacred clothes thereon made of pure
silk thread. on small eight-Iegged
tables were bamboo baskets containing
tho sacred vestments of silk ana cot
ton. Ritualists then proceeded to tho
two shrines OF Heaven and Earth and |
prepared the seats for the reception of /
the respective groups OF spirits The
seats were~arranGcd on the ton of an |
elevated throne in the innermost sec
tion Of the shrincs. each being covered
with small mating bordcrcd with
pure white hemp cloth.
SACRED LAMPS LIGHTED
At CORNERS OF SHRINES
Now twilight had come and sacred
lamps. one OF white. the other OF black
were lighted at the corners OF the
shrincs while n sacred bonfire blazcd
at the southern gate. Advancing slow
ly. the Emperor, attended by his suite
made his entry into the hall OF
bathing" Courtiers carrying lighted
torches led the procession. The dancing
flames. the noiseless advance over
silent corridors. the hush of the spec
tators-all contributed to n scene that
was profoundly impressive
The Emperor retired and took hath
of publication. wearing a bathing vest
ment Of hemp. He was then CARRIED in
ceremonial costume of pure white
silk without figure or design. Again
purifying his hands. he took baton
from chamberlain, and gave the
signal for the procession to the Yui<i
shrine, to which tho heavenly dcities
had been previously summoned.
Meantime. the Japanese digntarics
who had assembled in the waiting
hali were escorted to n pavilion built
outside the main gate to the south OF
the shrines. AS they moved forward,
strains Of music arose from the i'm
perial cooking hall. This was the an
cicnt song OF the rice hullers. played
by court musicians on flutes. bells and
drums. The sacred rice was being
hulled, cleansed and boiled by the
ritualists. Besides the rice other food
was being prepared--cakes. ear-shell
soup, sea-weed soup, sacred cake and
other things. This preparation over,
rttualists proceeded to the two shrines
carrying food offerings from the Yuki
and Suki districts. consisting Of dried
sea slug. dried cutie FISH, salmon. err
shell, edible sea weed. chestnuts. dried
persimmon, pears, bean rice cakes and
sake. They also carried q stick of
white wood, jug, knife box, n
towel box. n chop box and sake
cups of unglazod earthenware
EMPEROR ARRIVES