THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



Japanese. In Shintoism, there is a festival called 

 Bommatsuri, celebrated on July 13-15 in each 

 year, which corresponds to our All Saints' Day. 

 At this time departed spirits return for a brief 

 earthly sojourn. Elaboi^ate ceremonies are held 

 in each house. Choice dashes are prepared and at 

 night the way is lighted for the spirits by persons 

 carrying " peony lanterns," which consist of 

 candles fastened in the centre of artificial peonies 

 made of paper or silk and swung by a fine wire 

 bale on the end of a long pole.^ 



The affection of the Japanese people for the 

 peony is shown by the nmuerous legends and bits 

 of folk-lore concerning it, all of which are marked 

 by a charming symbolism. In many of these the 

 soul of the peony inhabits a body which is appar- 

 ently human, but which suddenly disappears on 

 sufficient provocation. In one legend, a Japa- 

 nese scholar made the cultivation of peonies his 

 sole recreation. On a sunny morning a beautiful 

 woman clothed in purest white appeared at his 

 door, and asked permission to become a member 



2 Lafcadio Hearn described another kind of peony 

 lantern made by attaching to the top of a festival lan- 

 tern artificial peonies of silk. 



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