KoYASAN, THE JAPANESE VaLHALLA 



^Sl 



read the sutra and the acolytes responded, 

 and for a half hour after there continued 

 the rhythmic, sonorous chant, broken now 

 and then M'ith a short obligate from the 

 immovable head priest and a clash of sil- 

 ver cymbals. The head priest laid in- 

 cense on the coals in the golden lotus cup, 

 and one by one the ten priests advanced 

 and reverently added to the perfumed 

 cloud that dimmed the room. Five visit- 

 ors, who had come to engage a special 

 mass or memorial service for the repose 

 of the dead souls of relatives whose tab- 

 lets are kept in the monastery, had con- 

 tinued a fervent repetition of the name 

 of Buddha throughout the mass. 



After the regular vesper service for all 

 the tablets this little family group drew 

 near the priest, made an offering of 

 money in white paper, and with a second 

 special chanting of sutras and burning of 

 incense the five mourners were made 

 happy. Receipts written on large papers 

 were given them, and as thicker incense 

 clouds rose the acolytes began extinguish- 

 ing the candles, until only one perpetual 

 flame, a tiny wick in a saucer of oil, was 

 left in the temple for the night. 



At five o'clock the next morning the 

 booming of great bells far away and the 

 clear silver strokes of the chapel gong 

 summoned the priests to a similar service 

 for the repose of the dead souls. Soon the 

 measured chants and the ring of the sil- 

 ver gong rang upon the sunrise air ; then 

 the thump of stockinged feet on echoing 

 boards told that the faithful were re- 

 turning from the chapel, and the buzz of 

 voices began again in the guest-rooms 

 and refectory. Later, the acolytes set 

 fresh cups of tea and bowls of rice, new 

 pyramids of fruits and shreds of food be- 

 fore the ihai, and the halls of tablets were 

 left in silence until the vesper service. 



SEVERE DISCIPLINE, EASTING .\ND VIGILS 



This Shingon (True Words) sect, 

 which Kobo Daishi founded, retains its 

 original features as it came from China, 

 and its ritual and symbolism, its mystic 

 signs, gestures, finger manipulations, and 

 practices, are derived most directly from 



the Hindu. By the mastery of the True 

 Word and of the secret laws of body 

 speech and thought, the Shingon priests 

 believe they may attain Buddhahood 

 while in their present physical bodies. 

 Like Kobo Daishi, they practice the most 

 severe discipline, endeavoring to reach 

 the higher stages and perfection by pro- 

 longed fastings and vigils, by the contin- 

 ued repetition of sacred words and 

 formulje, by the contemplation of sacred 

 pictures and crystals and by the contem- 

 plation of the abstract and absolute. 

 Passing into the trance or hypnotic stage, 

 they have transcendant visions and they 

 enjoy supernatural powers. All the 

 mysticism and ceremonial of northern 

 India and China are embodied in Shingon 

 doctrines and rites, and the most pro- 

 foimd European students of Japanese 

 Buddhism openly say that the Shingon 

 doctrine is as well nigh impossible to 

 comprehend as it is to express it in com- 

 prehensible language. 



In the Shingon sect the same household 

 marks and symbols are traced at the door- 

 way as in India, and there is a great 

 ritual of finger manipulations, signs, and 

 gestures peculiar to this one sect. A very 

 few of these mystic signs are evident to 

 or known by the congregation, as the 

 priests perform them within the folds of 

 their ample sleeves or when facing the 

 altar. A chart of a few of the simpler 

 Shingon gestures was published some 

 years ago by the Musee Guimet, in Paris. 



THE GOLDEN HALL 



The Kondo, or Golden Hall, of Koya- 

 san is one of the most splendid temple 

 buildings in Japan, vast in outline and 

 richly decorated in its interior. The inner 

 or truly Golden Hall, a pillared space 

 surrounded by broad, matted halls for the 

 congregation on three sides, is one blaze 

 of gold and brilliant decoration, from the 

 floor to the gorgeously paneled ceiling. 

 The elaborately gilded altar stands with 

 its ornaments against the golden wall, 

 and under the great jeweled baldachin 

 the square altar tables are loaded with 

 the innumerable golden objects used in 



