Evening star., 1945-08-12
BY JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

Like a tale from Greek mythology
is the account of the origin and
powers of the Japanese god-em-
peror which Is believed by his aver
age subject and which yesterday was
complicating the making Of peace
between Tokyo's war lords and the
Big Four powers.
Although-in actual fact-Japan's 8
series of conquests which, in their
latter phase, began In Manchuria in
1881 have been motivated by expan-
sion-mad generals and admirals
these have always acted in the name
of the Emperor. And the myth OF
the Emperors' divine and eternal
power makes it difficult for the jap
anese mind to comprehend his ac-
ceptance of orders from any one,
particularly foreign state.
Diplomatic observers here re-
called that the peculiarities of the
Japanese system led to difficulty at
the time Japan was called on in 1927
to ratify the Kellogg BRAND anti
war pact. The preamble stated that
the signatory nations, in the names
of their respective peoples" agreed
to abandon war ASIAN instrument OF
national policy. The Japanese held
that all actions of their state were
taken in the name of the Emperor
and an involved formula had to be
worked out for their ratification.
Ancient japanese Legend.
According to the japanese legend
Izanagi, an ancient god, dipped his
spear in the primeval sea, creating
an island, to which he and god
dess, Izanami, then descended
Izanami died while giving birth te
the god of fire. And from Izanagi's
body sprang various gods-like
Athene's arrival full-grown from
the forehead of Zeus in Greek
mythology. From his eye emerged
Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, the
legendary founder of the japanese
line of Emperors.
Amaterasu. SO the story goes
decided to people the earth. anc
sent his grandson, Ninigi, accom-
panied by lesser gods. to Kyushu
the main island of the japanese
group. According to japanese his.
torians, the present Emperor, Hiro-
hitc, is the 124th in direct line OF
descent from the Emperor Jimmu
great-grandson OF Nlngi and the
first Japanese ruler.
Because of his supposed divine
origin, the Japanese Emperor never
is crowned. Just before he ascends
the throne he keeps a night long
vigil at a sacred shrine where the
soul OF the Sun Goddess enters his
soul, thus co-ordinating him with
his heavenly ancestors.
Three Imperial Gifts.
The original Emperor, Jimmu
according to japanese mythology
received from Ninigi, who in turn
had got them from the Sun God
dess. three Imperial gifts-a mirror
jewels and sword, all of which
now are kept at sacred shrine The
Emperor's possession of these guar
antees his right to the throne.
One part Of the imperial credo
which has been vastly useful to
the Japanese military clique is the
belief that the first Emperor, Jimmu
instructed his descendants to bring
the eight rulers of the earth
finally under one roof" This is
the origin of the japanese belief
that the Emperor is destined. as a
matter Of divine right, to rule the
whole world.
During the middle ages the I'M
perial Court became wholly pre-
possessed with the pursuit of re-
ligion and the arts, and the theory
grew up that the Emperor was above
mundane affairs. In 1167 a group
Of rough-and-ready military chief
tains known as the Shoguns took
advantage of the courts ef1eminacy
and decay to install themselves in
power. However, they sedulously
cultivated popular belief in the
Emperor's divinity and publicly
maintained that their own power
derived from him. This rule of