MYTH OF DIVINITY REPUDIATED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24763, 2 January 1946, Page 5

MYTH OF DIVINITY REPUDIATED

Emperor’s Rescript To Japanese (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) TOKYO, December 31. In a New Year rescript addressed to the Japanese people the Emperor Hirohito declared that the legend that the Emperor was divine and the Japanese- people superior to other races was false.

“The ties between us and our people have always stood upon mutual understanding,” he said. “They do not depend on mere legends and myths. Theyare not predicated on the false conception that the Emperor is divine and the Japanese people is superior to other races and fated to rule the world.”

This epoch-making rescript is a complete denial of the doctrine that “at the heart of the people of Japan and at the head of the State of Japan is the Emperor, known to the people as Tenshi, the Son of Heaven, or Tenno—the Heavenly King.” The Emperor in his rescript alluded But if the nation is firmly united in a to the five clauses of the charter and resolve to face the present ordeal and

oath issued at the beginning of the Meiji era. He besought his people to proceed unflinchingly towards the elimination of misguided practices of the past and to construct a new Japan through being thoroughly pacific. “Love of family and love of country are specially strong in this nation, and with more of this devotion we should now work towards the love of man-

to see civilisation consistently in peace, a bright future will undoubtedly be ours, not only for the country but for the whole of humanity. “We feel deeply concerned to note that due to a protracted war ending in our defeat our people are liable to grow restless and fall into the slough of despond. Radical tendencies in excess are gradually spreading, and the

kind,” said the Emperor. “The devastation inflicted on our cities, the miseries of the destitute, the stagnation of trade, the shortage of food, and the great and growing number of unemployed are indeed heart-rending.

sense "of morality tends to lose its hold on people, with the result that there are signs of confusion of thought. The Government should make every effort to alleviate these trials and tribulations.”