HINDOO MYTHOLOGY. 15 
1. Tue Sprerr Wortp or tHe Bupputsts. The celestial beings who are 
called (Vat, are divided into three classes, and these are above the twenty- 
six heavens, which run parallel with the earth and are of the same size. 
The lowest of these is 180,000 miles above the earth, in the centre of Mount 
Mienmo. It is adorned by the sun, moon, and stars, and inhabited by the . 
Nat Zatamaharit who dwell in four kingdoms, eath of which has its 
separate capital and king. The highest part of the mountain constitutes 
the heaven of the Zavateinza, who are of immense size and enjoy twice as 
much felicity as the Nat Zatamaharit. Their immediate ruler is Buddha 
under the name of Sacrecya. 'Then come the other heavens, one still above 
the other, and each conferring in its turn double the happiness and dura- 
tion of life enjoyed in the heaven next below. Good men ascend first to 
the lowest heaven, with the prospect of being advanced by degrees to the 
very highest. 
But even these heavens were not always free from sin, for a portion of 
the Tavateinza, seduced by the wine as it pearled in the cup, partook of it 
and became Asswrz, in consequence of which they were banished from their 
heaven. ‘They wandered for a time in the empty space until Buddha 
created for them a new world beneath Mount Mienmo, where they were 
permitted to live and enjoy a species of inferior felicity. They were also 
made the judges over the souls of those recently deceased, and are there- 
fore located near the portals of Vzrza, the hell of Buddhism. 
2. Mora Cope or Buppuism. The moral code is mainly embraced in 
five great commandments: 1. Thou shalt not kill. 2. Thou shalt not steal. 
3. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife. 4. Thou shalt not le. 5. Thou 
shalt not drink wine or any other intoxicating liquor. 
Besides these, the great commandments as they are called, Buddhists are 
enjoined not to use harsh or angry words and idle conversation, not to 
covet their neighbor’s goods, not to wish a neighbor’s misfortune or death, 
and carefully to abstain from every act or thought which may lead them to 
worship false gods. 
3. Sects AMoNG THE Bupputsts. We have already stated the causes 
which led the followers of Buddha to divide into numerous sects. These 
sects in the progress of time began to differ widely from one another, not 
only in their names but also in doctrines and rites. Our space permits us 
‘ to allude only to a few. 
One of these is the sect called Zensji. It has its chief temple at Foocoo- 
saizi, of which we have copied an interior view (pl. 4, jig.17). Pi. 6, 
fig. 4, represents the chief priest; jig. 5, one of the subordinate priests. 
The former is particularly distinguished from other priests by the rich 
necklace, a drawing of which is given in figs. 16a), 17ab. Another sect, 
the Hokkesji, worshipped in the temple of Wetsirin at Honrensi (pi. 4, 
fig. 16). Pl. 6, fig. 8, is the figure of a priest belonging to this sect. 
Fig. 7 is a priest of the Lecosjt, and pl. 5, figs. 39, 40, priests of the sects 
Zen and Singon. All the temples were supplied with various implements 
that were used in the service and when offerings were made: some of these 
we have represented on pl. 1, jigs. 25-28, and pl. 4, figs. 18-32. 
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