THE FIRST JINGO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 319, 5 October 1908, Page 3

THE FIRST JINGO.

It may not bo/ generally known, saya a writer in an American magazine, that the first Jingo was a woman, who lived half way around the earth from England, 1700 years ago, and whose marvellous deeds quite overshadow those of modern aggressive patriots. She was not • only the original Jingo who introduced Jingoism with a vigour that has never yet been equalled, but she bore the name of "Jingo"—a name more honoured than that of any other woman in Japanese history. To bo sure, that was not the only namo borno by the greatest of'tho nino empresses who have ruled Nippon. The Japanese are generous to the point of cxtravaganeo in tho matter of names for those they esteem. When this celebrated empress was first married, and while she was cultivating tho good graces of tho gods with such assiduity that the delighted deities empowered her to attend to matters of state with greater success than her husband, Chuai Tenno, tho fourteenth Emperor of Japan,. sho was known simply as' Oki Naga Tarashi Hime No Mikoto. But when she had added- to her fame by exploits after tho death of the emperor, she received tbe additional name of Oki Naga Tarashi Hime Jingo Ivogo. Since her death sho has bc-en worshipped in many temples as a goddess, called Kashii Dai Mio Jin. Ordinarily she is.known as the Empress Jingo, which is the equivalent of " Divine Prowess." Not tho least of the reasons that Jingo is so highly venerated is ' that she was tho mother of Ojin, god of war, the most popular deity in Japan. Temples-and shrines to this fearful god are to be found everywhere, while artists never tire of . painting him, though he never would take a prizo at a beauty show. He has a hideous'face, and is foreyer squatting in an ungraceful position, with arms akimbo, a leer ujion his face, and a two-handed sword across his lap. It was sho who planned tho first foreign invasion ever made by' Japanese troops; conquered Korea for the first time, and was the'means of introducing' the first civilisation tho Japanese ever had; she was also tho means of introducing Buddhism, which Was exerted such a tremendous influence in moulding Japanese character and destiny. When tho captive King ,of Korea was brought before her on tho shores of Korea ho prostratedhimself beforo her and exclaimed, "Until tho sun rises in tho west instead of tho east; until tho waters in the rivers flow inland from the sea; until the stones oil earth are turned into stars in the sky, our homage, which we swoa'r this day to render, shall not cease. Lot the breaking of our oath be punished J b'y all tho gods in heaven, and on earth as well. "Henceforward, as long as heaven and earth shall endure, we will obediently act as thy forage-providers. Not allowing tho helms of our ships to become dry, every spring and autumn .we will send tributo of horse-combs and whippes, and without thinking the sea distance any trouble, wo will pay our annual dues." For four hundred years tho peaco was unbroken, and the picturesque vow to pay tribute, was faithfully observed. When sho returned to Japa,n she'toolc with .her eighty ship-loads of. booty, including gold and silver, jewels, fine cloths, and other manufactured goods of all' kinds known to tho ancient civilisation of China, which had long since been introduced into Korea. Eighty hostages, including the king's own son, were also taken back to Japan as a pledge that Korea would keep, her promises ,to tho adventurous empress. But what was more important than all tho booty, and the hostages—skilled artisans in every- trade, blacksmiths, metal workers, carpenters, potters, weavers, and the like, were taken back ■to introduce their craftsmanship into Japan, scholars to found seats of learning and missionaries to teach Buddhism were also taken with tho hearty goodwill of the Korean king. ( Jingo transported horses and men to'show how postroads could bo built and how thoy should be maintained.