Japan and the Japanese

TEMPLES. 301
stand commonly on rising grounds, and in the most conspicuous
places. Others, which are without, are built on the ascent of hills
and mountains. All are most sweetly seated, a curious view of
the adjacent country, a spring or rivulet of clear water, and the
neighborhood of a wood, with pleasant walks, being necessary for
the spots on which these holy structures are to be built.
" All these temples are built of the best cedars and firs, and
adorned within with many carved images. In the middle of the
temple stands a fine altar, with one or more gilt idols upon it, and
a beautiful candlestick, with sweet-scented candles burning before
it. The whole temple is so neatly and curiously adorned, that one
would fancy himself transported into a Roman Catholic church,
did not the monstrous shape of the idols, which are therein wor-
shipped, evince the contrary. The whole empire is full of these
temples, and their priests are without number. Only in and about
Miako they count three thousand eight hundred and ninety-three
temples, and thirty-seven thousand and ninety-three Siukku, or
priests,
to attend them.
" The sanctity of the Mia, or temples sacred to the gods of old
worshipped in the country, requires also that they should be built
in some lofty place, or, at least, at some distance from unclean,
common grounds. I have elsewhere observed that they are attended
only by secular persons.* A neat broad walk turns in from
the highway towards these temples. At the beginning of the walk
is a stately and magnificent gate, built either of stone or of wood,
with a square table, about a foot and a half high, on which the
name of the god to whom the temple is consecrated is written or
engraved in golden characters.
" Of this magnificent entry one may justly say, Parturiunt
Monies ; for if you come to the end of the walk, which is some-
times several hundred paces long, instead of a pompous, magnificent
building, you find nothing but a low, mean structure of wood, often
all hid amidst trees and bushes, with one single grated window to
look into it, and within either all empty, or adorned only with a look-
ing-glass of metal, placed in the middle, and hung about with some
* Kampfer's meaning seems to be only that the Sinto priests were not
monks living together in convents, like the Buddhist clergy, but having
houses and families of their own.
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