The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-11-15
VERY PICTURESQUE
CORONATION RITE
Is Planting, Growth and Serving OF Rice
to BE Offered by Emperor of Japan
to the Spirits of Imperial
Ancestors.


Kioto, Nov. l5.--One of the most pic
turesque of all the coronation rites we're
those connected with the planting,
growth and serving of the rice TO be Of
fcred by the emperor TO the spirits of
the imperial ancestors and the dcities
OF heaven and earth The regulations
concerning the planting take account of
certain forms OF divination.
The fields to be honored with the
planting and growth OF the sacred rice
were selected from the region to the
southwest of Kioto, called the Yuki dis
| trict and Others in the northwestern
district of Kioto known as the Suki
region. In making the choice the off
cials concerned rely upon the finding of
the OWNERS, who, taking the thinnest
part of deer's shoulder blade and
branch Of the habaka, species of cher
ry tree, place the latter in fire and
then apply the burning brand to the
deer's bone until the bone splits with
the heat. The direction of the split de-
cides the fields to be selected. The bone
has been used from the earliest times,
but latterly the use Of the bone was re-
placed by piece of polished tortoise
shell which is subjected to the same pro-
ceedings.
The ceremonies for deciding the fields
for the planting and growth of the rice
were held before the imperial ancestors
shrine of the imperial palace in Toxic.
The hall was decorated and the cere-
mony was officiated by Prince Iwak,ua.
chief ritualst, and other ritualists at
tired in ancient ceremonial robes The
ceremony was opened with music; food
offerings were presented by ritualsts,
and the chief ritualist read a Shinto
prayer before the altar The chief of
the coronation committee handed a case
containing paper on which was inscribed
the names Of the procedures of the Yuki
and Sllki districts to Count Toda, grand
master OF ceremonies, who passed it to
Chief Ritualist Prince Iwakura. The
chief ritualist ordered the rites of d.
Fination to be commenced. Prince kuio,
vice chief ritualist, asked the deties to
descend receive the food offering pre-
sented in their honor, and assist in the
for the sacred fields.
A sacred fire was made and two pieces
IF polished tortoise shell, one for the
.
Suki. were held up over the flames of
.he burning habaka tree. When the
.ortoise shells cracked with the heat
hey were handed to the chief OF the
committee. The ceremony
vas concluded amid the most found ST.
ence. The chief ritualist saw that di-
inc choice had fallen on the prefecture
# Aiehi, in the Yuki district, and the
prefecture of pagawa, in the Suki re-
ion. The result was reported to Prince
'ushimi, president of the coronation
oard, and was submitted to the EN-
error for sanction.
One koku, or about five bushels of
ice, was taken from each field Extra
rdinary care was observed in the culti-
alton. The area used for the cultiya-
ion of the plant was about an acre or
lore in each field, and each plantation
'as enclosed with row of IS trees
arlanded with ropes of straw.
The rice sprouts We're planted by vir
ms in fulflment of sacred traditions.
he fields were guarded day and night.
The men who weeded the fields and
rove away hungry birds during the
rowth and ripening Of the plants we're
lrfed daily. The plnel;ing of the ears
the matured rice plants, that is, the
,rvesting of the sacred rice. was at
pded by ceremonials dictated by an
emit practice and rieidly observed from
mes memorial Imperial messengers
ere sent to the fields, and those partici-
lting wore flowing robes and red lac
lered footgear. First of all they cleaned
eir bodies on the bank of the neighbor-
2 river and then they formed a process
on 10 the rice fields. Ears we're plucked
r two different purposes, one for pre-.
ring rice for the Yuki ceremony, to
performed at the Ynki hall. and the
her for distilling black and white sake
me used for the ceremony at the Suki
n. The separate portions OF rice were
aced in a basket over which a branch
the salSaki tree was laid. while twisted
eds were used rs a cover. The basket
Is then carried 10 Kioto in a ccremo-
Al procession. called "the procession Of
e sacred rice"