Japan and the Japanese

272 JAPAN. A. D. 1CDO 1C92.
The great festival of the ninth consists of processions through tha
principal streets, and spectacles exhibited in a temporary building
of bamboo, with a thatched roof, open towards the square on which
it is erected.
" The whole building," says
"
Kampfer, scarcely de-
serves to be compared to one of our barns, it is so mean and simple,
for it must be purposely built according to the sorry architecture of
their indigent ancestors. A tall fir is planted on each side of the
front of this temple, and three sides of the square are built round
with benches and scaffolds for the convenience of spectators.
" Everything being ready, the Sinto clergy of the city appear in
a body, with a splendid retinue, bringing over in procession the
Mikosi of their great Suu-a, as, also, to keep him company, that
of Symios. Murasaki is left at home, as there is no instance in
the history of his life and actions from which it could be inferred
that he delighted in walking and travelling.
" The Sinto clergy, upon this occasion, style themselves Ootomi
that is, the high yr -eat retinue which pompous title, notwithstanding
dragon, married a "wife, and become the hero of other notable adventures.
This legend makes it clear what Angiro, the first Japanese convert meant,
by speaking of the Japanese as worshippers of the sun and moon. See ante,
p. 49. The annual festival of Tensio dai sin falls on the sixteenth day of
the ninth month, immediately after that of Suva, and is celebrated through-
out the empire by matsuri much like that described in the text. The sixteenth,
twenty-first, and twenty-sixth days of every month are likewise sacred
to her, but not celebrated with any great solemnity.
Kampfer mentions as the gods particularly worshipped by the mercan
tile class 1. Jebisu (or, as Klaproth writes it, Ybis-san-ro), the Neptune
of the country, and the protector of fishermen and seafaring people, said to
be able to live two or three days under water. He is represented sitting on
a rock, with an angling-rod in one hand and the delicious fish, Tai, or
Steinbrassin (Sparus Jlurata, the Japanese name, signifies red lady) in the
other. 2. Daikoku, commonly represented sitting on a bale of rice, with his
fortunate hammer in his right hand, and a bag laid by him to put in what
he knocks out ;
for he is said to have the power of knocking out, from what-
ever he strikts with his hammer, whatever he wants, as rice, clothes, money,
&c. Klaproth states him to be of Indian origin, and that his name signifies
Great Black. 3. Tositoku, represented standing, clad in a large gown with
long sleeves, with a long beard, a huge forehead, large ears, and a fan in his
right hand. Worshipped at the beginning of the new year, in hopes of obtain-
with a
iuf , by his assistance, success and prosperity. 4. Fold, represented
huge belly, and supposed to have in his gift health, riches, and children.