ii6 Japan and the Japanese, 
nature, and beyond the comprehension of the Japanese, was 
exalted into the position of a deity. Implicit and constant 
obedience to the Mikado was accounted piety ; the opposite 
was rank impiety. Certain forms of prayer were used in 
public; and although no idols were worshipped in the 
temples, or Shinto shrines, a mirror was always to be 
found there as an emblem of the sun. A prayer recited 
by the Mikado at the Shinto shrine where he worships, 
seems to indicate that, like the Athenians of old, he prayed 
to some " unknown God " in sincerity : O God, that 
dwellest in the high plain of heaven, who art Divine in 
substance and in intellect, and able to give protection from 
sin and its penalties, to banish impurity, and to cleanse us 
from its uncleanness, — Hosts of Gods, give ear, and listen 
to these our petitions.*' The people were, however, taught 
not to annoy the gods by frequent and greedy petitions on 
their own account, for the Mikado was in his palace daily 
offering up petitions for all his people. In each temple, 
besides a mirror, may be seen strips of notched white paper 
stretched across from wall to wall. These shrines are 
attended by a multitude of priests and priestesses, who 
are supported partly by the Government, and partly by the 
offerings of the people. These offerings consist of silk, rice, 
cloth, altars, salt, animals, and other things; but no shed- 
ding of blood was required. In the early days of this faith 
it was much purer than at present, and really seemed to 
be an earnest religious system, in which the worshippers 
groped after God, and aimed at living moral lives. In course 
of years it degenerated into ignorant idolatry of the Mi- 
kado, and densest darkness of mind as to the past and 
future of mankind. 
Buddhism, like Shintoism, requires no sacrifices, but is a 
much less pure system of religion, and permits the worship 
