Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-26
JAPAN RE-ENACTS
ANCIENT CEREMONY
Rites Antedating Christian
Era Attended by Devotees
e ~. at Temple of ISe.
special Dispatch to The star.

centuries rolled back in Japan on Octo-
bef92, when religious ceremonies ante
dating the Christian era were observed
in Use, Yamada, the most sacred spot in
Nippon. Only three American CORE
spondentS were privileged to see the
professions and rites attending the re-
moval of the sacred mirror to the new
shrine, which is rebuilt and purified
every 20 years.
The solemn chants carried the hear
ers back to the dawn of Anglo-Saxon
civilization, to rites as ancient as Druid
worship, first described by Julius Caesar
in his commentaries on the conquest OF
Britain.
The actual origin of the ceremonies
is shrouded with the lengendry of pre-
historic days. The Sun Goddess, whose
wondrouS deeds are commenorated and
whose relics are guarded in the temples
of Use, is the central figure of Japanese
mythology, the ancestress of the
reigning imperial family. Once in anger
she withdrew into q cavern and the
world became darkened.
This solar eclipse is supposed to have
been terminated by the device Of al
other god. He placed a FURNISHED mir
ror near the mouth of the cave and
lighted a fire beneath it. When she saw
her features reflected in the brazen sur
face the goddess left the cave and
brought back light to mankind.
Gave Mirror to Grandson.
The Sun Goddess later gave this mir
ror to her grandson on the occasion OF
his descent to earth to become En-
peror of the Isles of Japan as one of
the insignia of his sovereignty. She IS
said to have told him not TO neglect
to worship it and make obeiSance be-
fore it as he would before her actual
presence. She also told him that the
duration of the throne which he was
founding would be co-equal with heaven
and earth.
Other treasurers that have been pre-
served include the sword which the
brother of the Sun GaddeSs is supposed
to have obtained from dragon which
he slew, and the third was a necklace
equally supernatural in origin. The
mirror symboliZeS righteousness and
neutrality-suspicious. the necklace, gen.
tlenesS and benevolence, and the sword,
valor and integrity. These are held to
be the most sacred of the symbols of
Japanese majesty and are preserved in
the Use Grand Shrine.
Treasures Moved for Purity.
They passed from the possession of
the demi-godS into the possession Of
Jimmu Tenno, the first ruler of whose
existence there is any trace. They
were carried by him from the south of
Japan when he set forth to conquer
the north and east. Tradition says
that at each stage of his progress he
built for himself dwelling similar to
those occupied by the demi-godS, who
were still on earth when he was young.
In one of the wings of his dwelling
was special place for these cherished
possessions. For nearly seven centuries
the treasures were deposited in various
parts of the Province of Yamato, ac-
cording to the residence of the early
Sovereigns.
The ceremony Of moving the shrine
for purposes of publication began in
the reign of Emperor Jimmu Tenno. At
this time ASsyria under Sardanapalus
Was at the height Of its power. Not
long after the 10 tribes OF Israel were
carried into captivity. Rome was still
abingdon.
The present Use Shrine is an exact
duplicate Of the first erected more than
1900 years ago. During the reign Of
Emperor Suinin (29 to 10 A. d. the
sacred treasures were taken from the
palace and deposited at Use. The pres
e1t shrine preserves the primitive SIM
piicity Of architecture of that ancient
period without color or carving, either
in wood or in metal.
VIII Move Other Relics.
Relics Of the earliest agricultural i'm
plements and weaving looms will also
be moved to the new shrine. 1t is
modelled with rigorous plainnesS, chiefly
of cedar. No paint or varnish is used,
but the ends of the beams are capped
with gtded metal for greater durability
The roofs are matched with rushes,
dexterously woven to prevent the attack
of moisture.
The principal building, called the
Shoden and devoted to memorial rites
In honor of the Sun Goddess, is So feet
and inches in length, IL feet deep and
10 feet and z inches high. The two
wings in which the objects are stored
are each Il feet long, II feet deep and
ID feet and 8 inches high, so that the
combined frontage Is rs feet and 9
inches. These edifices are surrounded
by an inner wooden Enclosure 55l feet
and inches long and an outer fence
about I'LL feet long.
All Glasses Pay Homage.
On the morning Of October 2 pill
grifns came up to the steps of the old
Shrine and with their eyes turned to-
ward the new building. clapped their
hands in reverent Shinto worship,
paused few minutes and then passed
on. Companies of midShipmen from
the warships also made obeisance and
stood reverently, representatives of new
Japan showing homage to the oldest
traditions Of Japan and her imperial
family.
At o'clock, the spectators assembled
along the cryptomeria- lined road where
the procession passed. Although the
drlzzle at times became a pouring rain
the onlookerS sat patiently on mats
under the protection of vari-colored
umbrellas.
AT s o'clock the entire body of Of
1lclating priests was summoned by the
beating OF drum TO the appointed
place of conVocation within the tenn
pie grounds. Two imperial princes,
Prince Kanin and Prince Kujo, the for
mer acting as the supreme director of
the SolemntZation and the other the
representative of the Emperor, led the
priests in slow procession to the old
shrine, attended by Premier Y. Hami-
guchi, princes, the governors of the
Province OF Ise, ministers and numer-
our. delegates from the Central Board
OF Rites, including prominent officials
and representatives of Japan. Many
We're clad in reSplendent garments Of
brocade in antique Shinto pattern.
Carried Flare of Torches.
When they started the darkness was
noAen py the mare OF pine torcneS.
Weird yet awe-inspiring music was
played by trained devotees on ancient
reed pipes. For four hours the cere-
monies continued
Meanwhile new and untrodden mats
were laid in two parallel lines from the
old to the new receptacle of the treas
ures and between them was stretched
a strip Of linen about feet wide. The
mats were used by the bearers, but the
linen was spread as a token of respect
for the spirits that guard the symbols,
where no feet are allowed to tread.
A roll of rich silk was next unfolded