614 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1913. 



something more or had something more than the usual, whether a 

 natural thing or a human being, was worshipped as a god. Shinto- 

 ism is originally the religion of the "plus" (more). It was des- 

 tined to comprise in itself the preservation and expansion of the 

 national life. As such it has its roots deep in the dark soil of the 

 instinctive, constantl}^ expanding life. It grew up with the national 

 life. It is a real, germane child of the blood of the national life. 

 Herein lies the difference between Shintoism and Judaism. The 

 Jewish people were adopted by Jahveh, Avhile the Japanese religion 

 grew up from the very beginning with the j)eople. Shintoism is no 

 accession; it is interwoven with the life of the people. It exists 

 among its people in a diffused, not concentrated manner. It is there- 

 fore not noticed under usual circumstances. If Shintoism has any 

 concern at all, it is the well-being of the nation in general. There- 

 fore only in times of danger or of a crisis in national life is Shinto- 

 ism seen in a pure form and with its original vitality. Patriotism is 

 Shintoism's own favorite child. To the Japanese patriotism means 

 something more than it does to other peoples. Through its associa- 

 tion with so many heroic and noble deeds and events which took place 

 in the course of more than two millenniums patriotism gains a pro- 

 found and exquisite, in short, a religious but not fanatical, signifi- 

 cance. A few examples may illustrate this. 



It was immediately after the naval battle on the Sea of Japan that 

 I, at that time a young lieutenant, asked one of my men: " Wliat 

 have you been thinking of during the battle? Have you been afraid 

 of death, or have you thought of it at all ? " He answered : " No, 

 Lieutenant, I had no thought either of life or of death, nor any fear. 

 One thought only was strong in me, and that was to do my duty 

 perfectly, and the only fear that I had was that I might commit an 

 error." I observed through the simplicity of his narrative that he 

 told what he really felt. This man saw in the service of the father- 

 land all that was precious. The service of the fatherland Was for 

 him the highest worship. 



It was, if I remember aright, on the eve before the battle of Muk- 

 den. An adjutant was looking for Gen. Kodama, chief of staff, to 

 whom he had a message to deliver. The adjutant went into the 

 quarters of the general, but the latter was not in. He looked for 

 him through the entire camp, but the general was not to be seen. 

 Finally, the adjutant going to the rear of the camp came to the 

 woods, and there he saw the general in the attitude of prayer, his 

 face turned toward the setting sun. Later he was asked what he 

 meant b}^ all this, for he was supposed to be an educated atheist 

 without religion. He answered simpl}' : having done everything that 

 in his opinion would assure victory, there remained nothing to be 

 done but to invoke the help of the higher power. 



