PAGEANT OF THE EAST

Evening Star, Issue 20019, 9 November 1928, Page 3

PAGEANT OF THE EAST

THE MIKADO’S ENTHRONEMENT AM EXHAUSTING VIGIL • sacred^begalia.,-' ; ‘ • ' ■* i " ■ ; ’■ 1 [Written by M. S. Pbimmeb, for the . . ‘ . ‘Evening Star.’] . • (Concluded.) , Kyoto for davp has been crowded, not only with globe-trqtters, but with Japanese of every political shade and religious creed, burning > with enthusiasm for'hini, who, on this great occasion, stood for;tho highest, national ideals. , A, quaint crowd, too; here groups of dainty ■ little women, with specially gorgeous obis fastened behind like huge butterflies; earnest,students, unmistmtable in square, hats and flowr ink robes; serious pilgrims,,young*and, old, wearied with their long march though their burden 1 was of; -the lightest, being indeed only a small bag of food and a - long staff, their white tobes showing signs or toil; while hither' and thither darted the swut- | footed kuruniaya,, or ricksha men, their hauri conspicuous from afar by reason of. ah enormous firm or family. : crest emblazoned oh their backs. And on all sides - one heard ' the daily greeting, “ Ohayo! Ohayo! ” followed' by, low bows-i-truly hot very graceful, being but the sliding of the hands down. the front of the legs, to the knees—a little difficult too in ; a crowd, especially where extra- respect means several

bendings! No' more fitting setting for this pageant',of a lifetime could bo found I than Kyoto, ancient capital where' in the last 600 years twenty-six rulers have followed to the detail the rites connected with their enthronement. It ’ has, of all Japanese towns, "that elusive charm that,comes alone ’from centuries of ■; national history ; no' modern wealth may 1 rival' it. Nothing 'now can take away the religious sanctity of the place, which for • 700 years ■ was the centre of ! Zen Bucldhism, and where, one still, finds numerous monks in wide, loose robes, quaint mushroom-shaped hats, . and begging bowls. Is it not here, too, that, one sees the Shinto emblem of purity in the narrow stream that encircles the Imperial Palace, with its white parallel walls, indicative of stability and order? ' , Meantime what of the Mikado ? While his subjects make holiday, he a lonely vigil keeps, with prayers and fasting, to prepare him for 1 the most sacrecr moment of his life, when on his shoulders will descend the task of carrying out the wishes of the gods and ancestors for the good of his people. ’

“ BANZAI! BANZAI! ”

The earliest streak of dawn on November 7 ushered ’ in the great etiquette, or actual enthronement rites. Bustling officials, scarlet-clad, and carrying bows and swords of ancient times, lihed up at the palace south gate, the while' antique gongs and; drums omitted unmusical sounds, scaring away any evil spirits that might be hinting near. 1 Still in the small hours of day,. the ■ doors 'of the Ancestors’ Hall were flung open, and in slowly walked the Emperor, clad in rich silk 'of dazzling whiteness, while behind, the chief courtiers bore the regalia. Here- reposed the Imperial Shrine, containing the precious mirror, to which His •’ Majesty made offerings. Hero he ‘ formally announced, his accession to his ancestors, and finally placed, in front, of the shrine, ,a branch of the-sacred sakaki tree.

From the public point of view ; the chief•'interest .came in ; the ■ afternoon, with the walls of the Shinsliin-deu, or Hall of Great Ceremonies, open : to allow the hundreds -standing in the courtyard to see what was going on. During the year this hall is opened by ..special- permission , to foreign visitors,- and I can now understand the reverence and hushed tones of our guide,-as he ushered us in to the actual throne room. The throne • itself is octagonal, and sheltered by .a, wonderful .-black lacquer canopy, inlaid with gold, and decorated with a gold phoenix. Purple brocade curtains adorned'hero and there with mirrors, recalled the sacred one that •at this moment stood, near the Emperor. Dp tho .central steps, railed off 'except for his use, walked Hirohito, bearing ' a simple wooden sceptre in his hand. On either side-,of the throne were the ‘‘ Sword of the Heavenly Clouds ” mid “The Eight-Feet Jewel-Bead ’Necklace,” both enclosed, in stands -of marvellous workmanship. A short decree, read by ' the sovereign ii.i the, midst of the silence of. low-bowing officials, was followed by an address from tho Premier. In a moment the air was rent with shouts of “ Banzai! Bahaai!” _ fjfsb from tho bannered lines of ■ lessor officials' on ; the stonepaved walk outside, and thou with lightning speed taken up by the huge crowds, and passed on to the uttermost parts of the Japanese Empire,- for this was • tho people’s . acknowledgment of approval and loyalty. . A UNIQUE PROCESSION. Much, however, still, remained lor tho Emperor to do, and it was. .not long before began the Daijosai or Great Thanksgiving, when;, through his “ spirit-quiet-ing, ritual” tho nation riot only offered thanks to the'gods for a bountiful harvest, but, in accordance with tradition, gave' itself up to serious meditation. At 4 p.m. rose the chant of old folk songs, led by peeresses in wonderfully andient robes, and carryingl gifts of simple food, such as rice, seaweed, and saki, as well, as-ovory-articles, symbolic of cleanliness. These bejng placed aright, tho Mikado, entered the Kairiyu-deh,'and, clad in • Heaven’s feather robe, stood in a shallow bath while a gentle •Iream■ enveloped him. Thus prepared for his all-night communion with his. ancestors, he changed into, ceremonial garments, and then there formed what must bo a unique procession. Though it was by this , time quit© .dark, no modern rillumuiation. was'allowed—only the soft flicker of'candles, kindled by rubbi. g pieces of ’wood together. , Hero uid there gleamed bonfires, and. from n;ery corner swung, hundreds' of bright japer lanterns. Fine' matting rolled jrnmodiately. in front of and behind aijn, so that no profane foot .should, touch .it; a straw umbrella and a. phoenix over his head; the sword and necklace carried by nobjes! and'everywhere the magic of _ deep’shadows and the gleam, of embroidered banners and. robes.. Could any other nation produce such .dramatic, artistry P Hour , after hour, |Hs Majesty spent-alone, till 5. n.m,'released nim, well-nigh exhausted. The, Wrocesripn, reformed as djiwn approached,- apd -.-at. last. Hirohito, was free ,to; join in, the. general: rejoicing. Banquets, , ; bldTWorld; dances, .’apd, theatre ' pprfonpapces -for two,, days brought'Kyoto’s.share to an end., • • fA - Splemp return ", to the ; great, shrine ate-Ise,* there to report proceedings, to JiipHtyrTenno apd: to : replace in safe; keeping the sacred treasures,, ended ’the. Tairei of tlje Mikacjo Hirohito.’ :