Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-14
japan Awaits
Solemn Rites
of Coronation
CONTINUED from Fifth Page.)

erect the Emperor wherever he goes
the principal ceremonies are simple and
strangely sacred. Perhaps it is west
ern failing to pay most attention to the
pomp and elegance, and leave out OF
consideration the soul experience
through which the Emperor passes
The display and glory are for the ma.
ton at large, but for the Emperor there
is the initiation into the duties of king
ship and the atmosphere of divinity.
For the purpose of this solemn ini-
tiation, two small buildings of prini-
tive architecture are constructed in an
isolated part of the country about KY
OTTO, the beautiful coronation city. Both
buildings are of unplaned wood, con-
structed without nails and matched
with bark. Everything is left as nearly
as possible In its natural state to SYM
bolize the "age of the gods" A long
corridor, sprinkled with pure sand, con-
meets the two cabins In the inner
chamber the furnishings consist OF
mats, padded with the cleaneSt straw
forming a couch. A pair of slippers
is placed at the foot. A comb, hairpins
and a coverlet of silk and hemp rest on
q small table, indicating the expected
presence of none other than Omaterasu
Omikami, the legendary ancestreSs OF
the ruling dynasty.
To this primitive scene the Emperor
takes himself the night before the cor
onation, following many days of cleans
Ing and publication. Clothed in robes
of archaic pattern, he enters the inner
chamber, leaving the Empress, the i'm
perial family and his ministers in ap-
pointed places a considerable distance
away. All is silent and the nation waits
in awe while the Emperor seeks to es-
tablish himself in the confidence and
trust of the gods. He greets the unseen
goddess with an obeiSance in front of
the elevated seat and then begins his
devotions. Various kinds of food on
earthen dishes are placed before the
divine spirit and the Emperor waits
Alpon her invisible presence.
Centuries that separate the Emperor
from his mythical anceStreSS of the
Sun melt away. For four hours continu-
Gus communication with the divine is
maintained. After midnight the Tenno
proceeds to the second chamber and
repeats the sacrament, concluding only
with the coming of dawn.
Is it any wonder that the Emperor Is
followed through life by this unique
experience? Is it strange that he
should become impregnated with fidel-
ity to the past; that life thereafter
should be plighted to the duties of the
present and the promise of the future?
Where is there another nation in the
world that has so profound an initia-
ton for its highest authority? BY un-
firing, close fellowship with the whole
line of the kami (imperial ancestors),
the Emperor hallowS his person and
Identifies himself with their honor and
their wishes. The japanese conceive
this night in the isolated cabins, alone
with the spirit of the goddess, to be the
highest form Of education for Sover-
eignty-the education of the soul.
X y y
NINTH the influence Of this unusual
Nv vigil upon him, Emperor Hirohito
lwill be ready for the principal cere-
monies Of his coronation November 10.
At the morning services he will an
mounce himself to the spirits of the
departed emperorS, and in the after
noon to his people. The morning ritual,
known as the Sense, is customarily an
cestor worship after Shinto style In the
Shenko-den palace.
The Emperor, holding the imperial
gcepter, and the Empress with her white
fan are escorted by court dignitaries in
ancient costumes to the sacred shrine.
iThe Emperor walks on new rush mat,
since shoes may not be worn in the
divine presence. The mat is rolled up
after him, so that no one else may
tread on it. Drums and gongs sound
three times while the assembly rises.
RitualiStic music is played as the En-
peror takes his place in the inner cham
Der OF the sanctuary, the divine treas
,ures in front of him and the Empress
beside. In breathleSs silence he rises,
makes an obeiSance to the gods, reads
q prayer and announces his accession
70 the departed ancestral spirits.
This ceremony is particularly interest
FAlY rfvaew Yas
prayer, clapS his hands and accepts the
divine treasures of the kami. These
sacred instruments are the mirror Of
the Sun Goddess, the sword taken from
q mythical dragon and the necklace of
Magatama. All are said by tradition
to have been given by the goddess to
her sovereign grandchild on the occa-
sion of his appointment to reign over
the Land of the Rising Sun.
The treasures are reported to have
been lost at sea, stolen, destroyed by
fire and to have met with other dis
,asters, so that only replicas are left.
These limitations have not been seen by
mortal eye for flve centuries. They are
closely shrouded by precious bags and
hre handled only by Chinto ritualiSts.
When the bags begin to show signs OF
decay, new coverings are put over them,
30 that the treasures are carefully hid
The mirror symbolizes knowledge, the
sword courage and the necklace mercy,
all necessary attributes Of the sovereign
BEFORE them the ruler bows down to
his fathers, invoking their guidance in
the discharge Of his responsibilities and
asking that his people may prosper.
Solemnization Of the enthronement
before the imperial ancestors is followed
by the ceremony known as Sokuyi, dur
ing which the Emperor makes his for
NAL announcement to representatives Of
the people from the Takamikura, i'm
berial throne in the Shishlin- den palace.
members of the royal household occupy
places in front of the throne and the
GignitarieS of the realm are present.
The Emperor enters with his royal
ecepter and the Empress with her white
fan. Salute Of the assemblage is fol-.
lowed by short imperial message OF
hcceptation. The PRIME minister reads
a congratulatory address, after which
the congregation joins in three banzai
cheers. Drums and gongS sound, and
the coronation, in which there is no
crown, is over. Fireworks, bombs and
Balutes announce the new TenShi sama
throughout the principal cities OF the
empire.
The formal accession Is followed by
Ai1e Daijo-sai, thanksgiving festival, II
which the Emperor offers newly mar
vested rice to the deities and partakeS
of the food with his people. This cere-
lnony begins with the sowing OF the
sacred rice Choice fields are conse-
Grated to this purpose, and every soeI
of the cultivation process Is accom-.
panied by ceremonies. Only men anc
maids of unblemished character may
tend the fields in which the holy cror
Is grown. and they must be most care
fully bathed and clothed in white.
When the last royal crop was beine
grown Japan was visited by violent
storm and men stood for hours Shield.