The Japanese Passover

THE JAPANESE PASSOVER. BY DANIEL P. WOODLAND, OF THE JAPANESE MISSION. There is no other custom that attracts greater attention and is more strictly adhered to, among the people of Japan, than the custom of feasting which has been handed down from generation to generation. Their calendar is replete with festival holidays, and to one who is not quite thorougtly acquainted with Japanese ancient history, they seem entirely meaningless. The writer has frequently made inquiry concerning the origin of some of these holidays, but in most cases has received no satis- factory answer, as the majority claim not to know why they are observed, and in that way avoid further questioning. For more than a week past, preparations have been going on for the celebration of "Tango, " one of the five great festival days of Japan, and today (June 15, 1907) being the eventful day, large fish- shaped banners may be seen floating over almost every home, the streets are decorated with flags, and over each door hangs a bunch of wild iris, while within even the humblest hut, is general feasting and gaiety. As more than ordinary interest seemed to be taken in this feast day, a special effort was made to ascertain its origin, and by chance I found that it came into existance about four hundred years ago, and has been faithfully observed every successive year since. It seems to have had its origin in the following legend, and is regarded by the Japanese very much the same as ourlsrael- itish fathers looked upon the Passover: A very brave warrior, from China, who had been very suc- cessful in warfare, planned to invade the land and take possession of it in his king's name. His army, consisting of 100,000 men, well- equipped and trained from infancy in the arts of war, was

980 IMPROVEMENT ERA. sighted off the southern coast of Japan, making its way toward the capital city. When the emperor learned of their intentions, he was over- come with fear, as his numbers were few, and he was entirely un- prepared to meet his intruders. While in this condition, he was visited by a very renowned sage who proposed a plan which he believed would save them. He ordered high poles placed in con- spicuous positions, and flags of various designs hoisted upon them; also iris, with other grasses having offensive odors, to be placed over the doors. This done, everybody retreated to the hills, and there, before their shrines, which, by the way, if they were as numerous then as they are now, were not a few, bowed in humble reverence and prayed to their gods for deliverance. While they were thus engaged, the would-be invaders attempted to land, but just before reaching the shore, a fierce wind arose, overturning their boats and casting the men into the water. The men being dressed in heavy armor, were all drowned, save three, who re- turned to their native land in a broken boat to bear the sad news to anxious wives and mothers. When the Japanese observed that their enemies had been destroyed, they hastened to their homes, built large fires, pre- pared their baths, and made a great feast. Last evening, hundreds of people could have been seen mak- ing their way towards the public baths, or preparing their own baths in the back yards- A private bath in this land consists of a wooden tub, either round or rectangular, and large enough to admit one person. These tubs are filled with water, and then heated to any temperature desired by means of a small stove built in one side of the tub. The water on such occasions as last night must be very warm, in fact so warm that only those who are accustomed to Japanese baths can enter. Every member of the family is suppose to enter the baths, in his turn, and there, in peace and tranquility, such as they imagine their ancestors to have experienced after their deliverance, review the incidents connected with this legend, and prepare their hearts for the event- ful morrow. Sendai, Japan.