SIMODA, 409 



the passer by, of appeasing anil imploring tlio good and evil spirits wliicli arc supposed to 

 frequent the neighborliood. At tlic doors and before the shrines there are always bits of paper, 

 some rags, cojiper casli, bouquets of flowers and other articles, which have been placed there as 

 projjitiatory offerings by different devotees. 



The Eio-shcn-zhi, the largest of the nine Buddhist temples, was set ajjart by the government 

 authorities for the temporary use of the Commodore during the stay of the squadron. It is 

 situated on the south side of the town, and has quite a picturesque aspect, with a precipitous 

 rock of over a hundred feet on one side, and a burial ground on the other, extending up the 

 acclivity of a thickly wooded hill. Connected with the temple is a kitchen garden, which 

 supplies the priests with vegetables, and pleasure grounds with beds of flowers, tanks containing 

 gold fish, and various plants and trees. A small bridge, neatly constructed^ leads from the 

 gardens to a flight of steps, by which the hill in the rear is ascended. Adjoining the ecclesi- 

 astical part of the establishment there is a room used for lodgers, which is so constructed with 

 sliding doors that it may be separated into several rooms for the accommodation of many 

 persons, or left as one large apartment. The officers of the squadron were comfortably jirovided 

 for in another building, and with an abundant suj)ply of mats to sleep upon, good wholesome 

 rice and vegetables to eat, plenty of attendants, and everything clean, there was very little 

 reason for complaint on the score of the material necessities of life. 



The large 3Iia, or Sintoo temple, is situated in the same part of the town as the Buddhist 

 establishments. A wide street, tlie broadest in Simoda, leads to an aventie of fir and juniper 

 trees, the vista through which is closed by the temple. As the visitor approaches he comes to 

 a bridge which is thrown over an artificial fish pond, which breaks the continuity of the street, 

 and as he enters the shaded avenue he passes over another miniature bridge beautifully 

 constructed of finely carved greenstone. Two grim statues of armed men, whose fierce aspect is 

 heightened by the covering of moss and lichen which, with their irregular growth, roughen 

 the rude sculpture, and, by their mottled color, give an increased savageness to its look, stand, 

 one on either side, as guardians of the temple. Several pairs of candelabras in stone are 

 arranged near by, towards the termination of the avenue, and on their right is a square belfry 

 of open woodwork resting upon a high foundation of masonry. From the roof swings a beam, 

 which is used to strike the bell which hangs within. To the left is a low shed covering six 

 small stone images of deified heroes, the flowers and coins lying before which indicate the 

 worship of devotees. As the visitor advances he passes under a pavilion built over the pathway, 

 and^finds within various offerings, some paintings, coarsely executed, of junks, and shipwrecks, 

 a bow or two, and scores of queues, cut off by shipwrecked sailors, and hung up as testimonials 

 of gratitude for the preservation of their lives. 



Leaving the pavilion the visitor reaches a flight of stone steps beyond, which lead to the 

 principal hall, which is elevated some six feet above the ground. Two stone lions, whose small 

 heads and enormous ungainly bodies show that the artist was equally unacquainted with the 

 grace of art and the truth of nature, guard the entrance. The porch is sustained by posts 

 which are carved with grotesque representations of tigers and elephants' heads, and other 

 adornments, showing neither skill of hand nor beauty of design. The temple itself is con- 

 structed of wood, with a covering of thatch. The interior is not, like the Buddhist monasteries, 

 supplied with sliding panels, but contains two compartments — the main hall and an inner 

 shrine, partitioned by a latticed bamboo screen. Within the latter is the image of Hachiman, 

 52 J 



