unusual to western eyes. There is 

 nothing grim, austere, or solemn in 

 their faith. The temples are bright, 

 and the people take their religion 

 cheerfully and with smiles. Not only 

 in the temples is the lotus flower por- 

 trayed, but it is a common device upon 

 the tombstones, a favourite pattern 

 being two blossoms with their stalks 

 entwined. The little Buddhist chil- 

 dren of Japan have a god of their own 

 who is represented as standing on a 

 rosy lotus. His name is Jizo-Sama, 

 and when the souls of children are 

 frightened by demons they hasten 

 to Jizo, and he hides them in his 

 great sleeves and drives the demons 

 away. 



On festival days the lotus buds and 

 flowers are sold in immense bunches 

 supported in frames of bamboo. The 

 leaves are sold separately, and are used 

 to wrap the food which is to be offered 

 93 



