Evening star., 1923-09-08

H great world powers. The news that the
( new ruler of what is now the third
greatest world power took office with
I solemn rites of a non Christian religion
+ came to some, therefore, as a somewhat
Startling fact. Something of the part
u that Shintoism, this old imperial re-
liligion, plays in the life of the japanese
is brought out in the following bulletin
issued by the National Geographic So
ciety:
/. "Shintoism has had it's ups and downs
In Japan, but it has been kept alive
from the dawn of the empire, and in
spite of its obvious deficiencies to the
mind of the westerner, il has very
deep hold on the people of the islands,
nguring everywhere in their daily lives.
1t has always been simple cult. but
since Japan has taken her place actively
In the affairs of the world, the faith, in
so far as the heads of the government
are concerned. has been invested with
an even more marked simplicity and
dignity. 1t would even seem that mod
ern conceptions of practical psychology
have been called upon to anchor this
faith more firmly as Japanese insti-
tuition.
Inculcates Patriotism.
I'm a way the ofticialdom of Japan
day for clinging to its old faith than
at any time in the past, for it is
essentially religion of patriotism,
of the empire. Fnrthermore. it in
culcates a patriotism which pivots
around the imperial family, and espe-
cially around the person of the EN-
peror. Nothing approaching the rev.
Japanese masses toward their em
peror has been possible under Chris
tianity. even where loyalty and love
OF kings has been carried to the
have stopped at the claim of their
divine right to kingship-the idea
that they are chosen of God. But the
Japanese emperors have gone MUCH
farther and claim that they are
actually descended directly from the
chief Shinto deity.
Fairly recently history has empha-
sized the seemingly practical ad-
vantage to the government of this be-
lief. When the Japanese turned to
certain extent away from Shintoism
and to Buddhism during the middle
ages reverence for the emperors de-
heads. with shoguns actually ruling.
The swing back to Shintoism led,
without question, to the restoration
of the imperial family to its old
powers in 1867. Since that time the
rulers have been careful to show at
every opportunity their adhesion to
the old faith of their fathers
seems Queer tumble.
"Shintoism seems queer and in
complete tumble of beliefs and super
stitions to the westerner, but the
masses of the Japanese who are born
in its atmosphere do not seem to
question its adequacy, especially
when. as is usually the case. it is
combined with ii modified Buddhism
and a modified Confucianism. This
n IA: I Il trvi1
shows trait Of the japanese that
has been demonstrated more famil-
iarly in their absorption of parts of
the material civilization and culture
of the west. Buddhist casuists in the
eighth century explained that the
god ancestors of the Japanese enlper-
ors were simply incarnations OF the
Buddha and thai the religions were
therefore one. This view became the
generally accepted one and was fur
ther amplified to include the teach
ings of Confucius on the theory that
Shintoism teaches Of the past. Confu-
cianiSm of the present and Buddhism
of the future.
Taken alone, Shintoism is more
nearly like the mythology Of the
Greeks and the Teutons than like a
real religion. It's chief deity is the
sun goddess and there are supposed
to be in addition eighty myriads' of
lesser deities. Ones ancestors are
worshipped. too, and especially are
the deceased emperOfS Oeilleu Among
the common people there are gods or
spirits for everything, from the sew
ing needle and the rice pot to trees.
mountains. clouds and the sun.
Shrines are set up along the roads
and even in out-of-the-way places to
the more important of the gods and
to the spirits of deceased men of
prominence. Shrines are even i'm
provised to the spirits Of certain
trees and rocks.
Religion of Rulers.
But in the Shintoism practiced by
the rulers these petty gods have in
effect been brushed aside. In the
palace of the emperor is hall of
reverence sort of holy of holies OF
Shintosm, where on occasion the en-
peror and his family worship and
where solemn state religious cere-
monies are conducted with high Off
cials in attendance. The architectural
ideal of Shintoism is simplicity. and
in the hall of reverence this has been
carried to it's highest development
The room is large and lofty, and its
walls. ceiling and floor are all con-
structed of smooth. knotless- boards
of snowy whiteness. Near one end
are three shrines in the form of affairs
or cabinets, also of pure white wood.
The large central altar is that of the
sun goddess, from whom the royal
family claims descent. On one side
Is a smaller shrine to the spirits OF
and on the other side is an altar
which demonstrates the simplifying
Influences in modern Shintoism: 1T is
dedicated to the remainder OF the
eighty myriads of gods. Beside each
altar is placed a green bough and in
front of each a censer containing un-
lighted incense. On the floor are mats
of rice straw.
when the emperor is to worship.
officials of the government bureau of
rites enter and seat themselves on
mats The doors of the altarS are
opened and the officiating priests, to
the sound of ancient music. place
within offerings of rice, fish, vege-
stand the princes and high mobiles file
in. Finally the emperor enters alone.
walks slowly to the affairs, bows his
head takes a green branch and waves
II in token of publication. He then
ignites stick of incense on each
Denser. repeats a prayer and ret1res.
Holiday When Emperor Worships.
& 1.-The stated occasions on which the
emperor worships in the hall of rever-
ence are national holidays in Japan,
fact which impreSSeS the imperial sane
tion of the cult on the minds OF tne
plays it's part in the public life OF the
nation. Whenever an ambassador, en-
yoy or other official is to go abroad IN
the interest of the government. he must
70 to the hall of reverence before his
departure to worship the national gods
and to ask their blessings on his work
for the nation.
( '"The hall of reverence is the some
what austere place of worship OF the
rulers and leaders of Japan. The tenn
ple of the sun goddess at Ise, on the
pther hand, is the Japanese mecca.
Emperors and potentates worship there,
too, but to it also flock tens of thou
sands of the common people: Those
10 do Cn