KAMI- NO - M IC H I TH E WAY O F THE GO DS IN jA PAN H O P E H UN T LY LO N D O N R E B M A N LI M I T E D SH A FT ESBURY A EN E w c U . V , . 1 9 1 0 [A H RQML&W W M] KAM I- NO - M IC H I TH E WAY O F T H E GO DS IN JA PA N H O P E H U N T LY LO N D O N R E B M A N LI M I T E D SH A FT ESBU RY A VEN U E w c , . 1 9 1 0 [A 11 Rights Reserv ed ] D E D I C A T E D T O ALLASP IRING SOULS E R RAT A . Pa 2 1 l e 1 f a e n o r En l sh ead Pers i n e . g 4 , i , g i poet r po t “ ” “ Pa e 6 lin f m b m for H am - K i read H a - K i g 7 , e 9 ro otto , ir ri ir Pa e 2 l ne 8 f m to d o d g 7 4 , i ro p , itt itto Pa e 2 l nes — f m to d d g 7 7 , i 4 5 ro p , itto itto Pa e 2 8 l n f m bo m d o d o g 7 , i e 5 ro tto , itt itt Pa e 2 8 6 l ne 6 f m b m d t d g , i ro otto , it o itto P UBLISH ER’S P REFAC E THE desire of the author is to guide her readers - faithfully along this time honoured , half ” obliterated Way of the Gods , clearing the path with reverent , not iconoclastic hands , because recognising it as the Way by which the J apanese were divinely led to their present Th e is mental altitude . path traced in threefold — a . aspect Ethical , Philosophic l , and Romantic The story trends towards a sensational crisis in order to emphasise life- portraits known to the author While resident in the country . To do this more effectually she presents the characters in the setting of their own harmoni ous she has environment , every scene of which personally explored . C O N T EN T S C H A P . T I N P N I . HE WAY OF LOVERS J A A T D II . HE WAY OF LOVERS IN ENGLAN III . HER FIRST J APANESE CONVE RT IV . A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA TIVES ENTERTAINS “ E D T F H E M D N L . TH A GH ER O T D YO E Y V U AI , IVI FAIR ” N E v1 . B Y TH E SIDE O F A S OTO B A I TH HAKABA “ ! I I TH E O F TH E V . PARTING WAY I N TH E P TZ R VIII . J A ANESE SWI E LAND TH E O F Ix . COST AMBITION TH E M O F TH x . QUAL S OR ODOXY I OF TH E YUZURI - H A ! . A VENERABLE LEAF 1 1 TH E O F Tw o x . WHEEL IGWA CRUSHES HEARTS XIII . WHERE AMIDA DAIBUTSU REIGNS SERENE C R XIV . THE CLASH OF EEDS x CONTENTS C H A P . P A GE “ O XV . THE H A TA MOT SAMURAI FACES THE MUSI C TH M XVI . E WIFE OF KOJ I A SAN ARRANGES AN EXHIBIT OF BON - SEKI T T N D XVII . THE REVEREND ERNES HOMPSO BEN S THE KNEE TO BAAL I 4 I T T G OF XVIII . IN HE DEPTHS OF HE FOR E VULCAN 1 54 H ATA M O TO XIX . THE SAMURAI RECEIVE THEIR INVISIBLE GUESTS A BRAVE SEND OFF TO A PASSING SOUL . Z R SETS F RTH N A L NELY LGR MAGE XXI U I O O O PI I , AN D ENCOUNTERS A DYNAMIC FORCE UN KNOWN TO O UR THEOLOGY A GL M S ’NEA H THE E L F HE HR E XXII . I P E T V I O T T IC H L EST SUN - G DDESS AMA -TERA SU O I O , THE AT- NE - MENT F THE MANY N THE XXIII . O O I HEART OF THE WHOLE THE MYST RD F THE G DS FU LF LS H S XXIV . IC BI O O I I MISSION THE ENERA LE SAM RA C LEANSES THE XXV . V B U I HONO U R OF HIS HOUSE HE I NTER ENT N F THE NEW W RLD N XXVI . T V IO O O I THE PERSON OF EXC ELSIOR LIST O F ILLU ST RATIONS O F cin IKA a g p . 7 1 RENEGADE ! A 8 1 AMIDA DAIBUTSU BEFORE TH E SHRINE Z URI SETS FO RTH I AN IMPERIAL WELCOME FUJ I AT REST ASAMA I N AC TION ASAMA -YAMA APPROACHING TH E SUMMIT ! TH E BRINK OF TH E CRATER O WA KI DA ME TH E ALLEY OF TH E GREAT , V BOILING KA MI- NO - MIC HI TH E WA Y O F T H E GODS IN JA P A N C H A P TE R I THE WAY OF LOVERS IN JAPAN - FAR away in sunny Japan , out distancing the - beaten track of globe trotters , flourishes an isolated grove of camphor trees . SO They are magnificent specimens , closely S grown that the smooth trunks , towering kyward , f interlace the higher branches , a fording mosaic glimpses of persistent blue . Here may be discovered , though totally a o ' eclipsed from view , primitive Shint shrine NO one would surmise the fact of the hidden temple , for even the Torii , or open gateway , ‘ 2 THE WAY DE THE GODS IN JAPAN that leads to it , is completely enveloped with foliage . On the outskirts , the feathery branches of some bamboo trees , fan the bronze water S of a heltered pool , and here , on stated festivals , a few weary pilgrims may be found , Cleansing the of soil travel from lips and hands , before venturing to penetrate the sacred precincts . The sunny afternoon had been preluded by a days of persistent rain , rain that c me down like can wire , as Japanese rain consequently the odour of the camphor trees rose through the air , an ascending stream of incense that ceased not night and day . The only Sign of human life that emerged occasionally fromwithin the grove was - the form of a white robed priest . - in Carryn the food offering , he would cross the tervening glade to place it reverently Within the Shins en jo , a compartment set aside for that purpose . In the foreground the figures of a young man dr and maiden were prominent . They were essed - kim ono in the time honoured costume called , and had finished lavm g their mouths and hands in the Clear water of the pool . THE WAY OF LOVERS IN JAPAN 3 The sunshine illumined two happy faces , the faces of those who were recently betrothed . t The girl was beau iful physically , with the beauty which is accentuated by harmony of voice and expression . I always knew this day would come , She said , in the resonant tones of her native tongue . As she spoke She dashed some sparkling drops of water from her hair , replacing the kerchief , with which she dried her supple fingers , in the S leeve of her kimono , which also served the purposes of a pocket . There was a ring of unalloyed happiness in l the laugh that fol owed her action . Her eyes , - u tantalisingly secreted , were pent p j ewels , that glittered with j oy , while her dainty lips parted expectantly , like the petals of a crimson Lotus no bud . She roused echo of merriment in response . Her companion gazed on her complacently with eyes full of assured love , but his demeanour was more serious than seemed warranted by the happy occasion . know ? How could you always , Zuri 4 THE WAY OF THE GODS IN JAPAN was u he questioned , and his voice un sually subdued . How did I always know ? she repeated chidingly . You have surely not forgotten our Childish vow that we made SO solemnly to the Roku Jizo The Roku were Six baby images of the God izO u J , to whose g ardianship the souls of dead Children are consigned . Do you not remember , she went on , how we implored JizO to protect the soul of my little Sister , and Shelter it in his Sleeve , vowing , if he did so , we would wed when we were grown , and serve him the rest of our lives Ah I see now the little bag full of pebbles that we hung round his neck , and then how hard we toiled to build up SO the pyramids of penance , that the soul of my Sister Asaka Should have less to do in the Sai - no 1 Hawara . Did we not know that every pebble given to Jiz O with a prayer from the heart is a blessing to an infant soul IS it possible you P have forgotten all this , Ito 1 Th rt on f H des h er h e h ldren at p o i o a w e t C i go . THE WAY OF LOVERS IN JAPAN 5 Ito smiled , and there were symptoms of patronising forbearance in his expression .