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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 1915)
THE SUNDAY OKEnOXIAX, PORTLA.VD, XOVE3IRER 7, mi.T r ; : ' HE AY ENLY LORD 7"!e coronation of the Japanese Emperor is said lo be the oldest of existing ceremonies. All is severe imposing. Though descended, as the Emperor is supposed to be, from the dazzling sun goddess of old, Ama tersu O-Mikami, his garb is not of the colors of the sun. It is somber almost, suggestive of the responsibil ity) ivhich he had that day assumed. The Emperor is the descendant of ant unbroken line of 75 generations of rulers, and to the faith-thrilled mind of the peopleof Yamato he is a liv ing god upon a throne. A NEW, 20th century, democratic Japan is about to crown its 124th Mikado. The present inauguration will airierent in many ways from those that have grone before, for the reign ot the great Mutsuhito, whose rule nearly spans the last 60 years, has been fraught with great changes for Japan. A parliament has been created, two wars have been fought, manufac ture and commerce have been given a tremendous Impetus and a vast, mys terious empire has come out into the open. But with the coronation itself the spirit of the long ago Is over all. This coronation is thought to be the old est of existing ceremonies and, to be appreciated by the Western mind, should be grasped In its entirety. One must go back as the Japanese go back, not merely to 75 generations of rulers, but farther still, to the very mists of history and beyond, to the time when written record and traditions were not and the world of aeon old gods existed in glittering, golden sunlight. For it was in that inconceivably dis tant time that the magical sun goddess Amatersu O-Mlkaml placed the son of her child. Jlmmu Tenno, on the throne in the land of Yamato. Decreed thus divinely to rule, the eye that is lightened by faith can see the long: line of the Mikados coming down from tlie tradition enshrouded days of the past to the secular days of the pres ent. More even than that the Oriental heart believes that tho people of Ya mato themselves have sprung from- di vine conceptions and that from that long-gone natal day when the first generation passed from the living world to the world invisible each single soul mingled In ghostly company with the gods themselves. So it has gone' on, year after year, generation after generation, until the present day. 'Banaai!" shout the Japanese after the coronation, holding high their lan terns and wishing their new emperor 10.000 years ot glory. "Love" and "de votion'" it means, and from the hum blest to the proudest it is on all lins And on thut night of November 10 "Kashikodokoro." ' The "Kashikodokoro" occupies the central position in the Imperial sanctuary in the Palace, Tokyo. It may be translated as the "Place of Reverence," and it is ivhere a dupli cate of the Divine Mirror, one -of the Three Sacred Treasures, is en shrined. The Mirror represents the Imperial Ancestress. every house in Japan will hang out a heartbeat. lantern and bands will play in every It is only a moment that the em part of the empire and citizens make peror ascends three steps, reaches the processions wondrously vivid in color. The night, indeed, wjjl be a miracle of shooting stars from the Reworks of fered up in every part of the land. Since the capital of the empire has 0 CoiffQx; changed from ancient Kyoto to modern Tokio, the emperor must travel some 300 miles in order that the ceremonies h oim,-i i , rm.,-. , w H. W WW. 1 UiO 111 U ceremony Is the last, an earlier one preceding it. For within twenty-four hours of an emperor dying his succes sor la promptly inaugurated with vari ous less important ceremonlasi In th. royal palace at Tokio. So his majesty Toshihite really became ruler of th land on July SI. 19ls It mic-ht .! K . noted that the formal enthronement w. . ioi year . it the dowager empress had not died and everything: had. to ba postponed for a year. There are three interesting material badges which the emperor must pos sess In order that he may rale. They are . the sacred mirror, ths sacred sword, and the sacred jewel, and they have come down to him from his for bears of the ancient world. All of those, guarded by a hundred precau tions, are carried with the emperor ' when he makes his journey to Kyoto. Kyoto, the spot which has housed the emperors for nearly a thousand years, is a beautiful city, lying in a valley lined on three sides with deep, luxuri ant woods. The maples will all be in their scarlet glory and the town aflame with fluttering: flags. At The appointed nour on the morn ing: of the 10th the imperial palace will be thrown open and the progress of the emperor and his suite through Kyoto will be one of magnificence. While the emperor is dressing the princes and great officials will don the ceremonial attire, all in costly robes. Coronation Programme. Nov. 6 The Emperor and Em press leave for Kolo. Nov. 7 The "Kashikodokoro" enshrined at Shunko-den Palace. Nov. 10 Morning, coronation before " Kashilodokoro" ; afternoon, coronation ceremony at Shishin-den. -Nov. II Sacred music and dance before "Kashikodokoro." Nov. 12 Imperial messengers depart for imperial shrine in the country. Nov. 13 "Chinkori" service. Nov I4"Daijo" festival. Nov. 16 Post-coronation ban quet, first day. Nov. 17 Post-coronation ban quet, second day. Nov. 17 Post-coronation ban quet, evening. Nov. 20 The Emperor visits the great shrine of Ise. Nov. 24 The Emperor visits the Mausoleum of Ejnperor Jimmu. Nov. 25 The Emperor, visits the Mausoleum of Emperor Meiji. Nov. 26 The Emperor visits the Mausolia of Emperors Komei, Ninko and Kokaku. Nov. 27 The Emperor leaves for Tokyo. Nov. 28 The "Kashikodok oro , returns to Tokyo. The Barl of the emperor is somber al- most as the ceremonv ) afis..,- n n impressive beyond words. Though de scended from the goddess of the sun. no reflection of her glory is evident in the robes of the mikado. The ceremony is derived from the cult of the dead, and the spirit of the dead must not be disturbed. There is a ceremony in the morning, and then in the afternoon there is a real one. It takes place In only one temple, at the Shlshindon. There are seats there for some 2000 representa tives. The great Sokui rife is the actual culmination of all the ceremo nies, the moment when a nation of 70,000,000 souls will throb to a slnirla piatiorm,- ana takes In silence the scepter from the hand of the chamber lain. This Is the act, the Sokui, which makes him the emperor. Then be en ters the curtained pavilion, sits upon the throne, and then the hieh officials, looping back the curtain, reveal him to tne tnron8T. After the emperor ha read tna imperial speech the prima CpRONATION CEREMONIAL BEFORE THE "KASHIKODOKORO" rPHE coronation proper consists of tw eParate ceremonials, one la iw. v 1 ... .... .7 " IT "" ,,Thl.Trn'" ,unetlo U or nthex ancestor-worship" cere r x - - v -x , "y." M W 'I -JV ''' p rS5! fjj j v ' I jfr VS"-- ' a 3 -'v J" V t ' 1 B pW 1 1 !!;su " misister takes his place by the flag presence of the member of the impe . and shouts "Banzai!" The whole as- rial family, high officials end court "mbly in unit take it up "Bansai!" "Bansai!" "Banzai!" "Live lord live iw.ooo years! and the emperor re tiraa. mony, at which the Emperor formally aoQuires the three sacred treasures, ' ana prays tor me prosperity of his reign. In the afternoon the Emperor, rcigu. in me anernoon tne Emperor, who had thus solemnised his enthrone: i - ment before his ancestors. asmto. dignitaries, as well as the representa- tives of foreign powers, he formally announces his reign from the "1 mikura," or imperial throne. The Prime Minister, representing the entire people of Japan, respectfully offers congratulating- and felicitations, as well as leading the three "Bansai!" "Long live the Emperor!" The morning ceremonial is held he Shunko-den Palace, where the "KaanHtodokoro" wfu bo enshrined. This nalai y,mm . . . .., - K.L? ? t?,wUt,3?0 sauare feot nTiri i. v.,.,,. ,.. , : varnished ood It umumwieo wooa. it consists of an 1 anil -h . . "th r Empress will be : : " Vtx vTb" "m'S th6 bead necklace will ha n awd n a t a hi v 1 j 7 The Kenrei-mon gat. and the Ken- "Dul i-mun i.i-a mua me mh- 6hu" to the south and to the ... east, respectively. detailed about the gates. Outside the gates the Imperial Bodyguard will be placed. From early hours Of the morning Ministers of State, high officials of the government and officers of the army and navy, court dignitaries, peers, foreign envoys and their wives will begin to assemble in the com pound of the Shunko-den. The men will be attired in court dress with white trousers. In full drees as for evening", or in' uniform. The women, will wear special ceremonial robes. The ritualists and other officials in charge of the cermorty will wear an cient court costumes. , The Crown Prince, Princes and Princesses of blood and other members of the imperial family assemble at the Giyoden Palace, which is situated between the Shunko-den Palace and the 8hlshin-den Palace, and is acces sible by a corridor from both palaces. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, followed by their suites, also "'" wnere they costumes before going to arrive at this palace, where they - - - " b"ik tu """"f before the "Kashikodo- koro. The EroDeror woam v, . Japanese style. 0 i A
