THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM 



came into high favor with the aristocracy and was the foun- 

 dation of the Japanese drama. Brocaded kimonos used in 

 this dance are shown in a wall case on the right. 



Down the hall are robes, headgear and other apparel 

 worn by nobles, including football costumes and, balls. Foot- 

 ball was a game especially for the nobles and consisted in 

 keeping the ball high in the air, no goals being used. 



The Ho, or principal outer robe worn by nobles as a 

 ceremonial dress, dates from 300 A.D., when the dress itself 

 and the silk to make it were imported from China, different 

 colors and patterns signifying different ranks, that of the 

 prince of the blood being yellow. Various examples are 

 exhibited, together with fans, stockings, hats and cere- 

 monial scepters used by nobles. No noble below the fifth 

 rank could use an ivory scepter. Cups and bowls once used 

 in the Imperial Household are also shown here. 



Still farther down the hall the cases are devoted to ex- 

 hibits relating to the Shinto religion, the original and essen- 

 tially Japanese religion of the country. These include 

 robes, hats and fans of priests, Shinto shrines and offer- 

 ings, and "makimono," or rolls of color prints representing 

 religious processions. Ancestor worship, one of the main 

 tenets of this religion, probably arose from some form of 

 nature worship, and the key-note of its outward observance 

 is simplicity, no graven images, color or carving being em- 

 ployed in Shinto temples and shrines, whereas in Buddhist 

 temples richness of decoration and appurtenance is the rule. 



Buddhist books, paintings, costumes, hangings and other 



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