Belief about Wagtails --The Sekirei or the wagtail

is believed to be sacred to Izanami and Izanagi, for, according to a legend, the gods are stated to have first learned the art of love-making from them. Consequently, nobody ever injures or terrifies these birds, at least in the neighbourhood of Oba.*

Tree-Cult of the Japs.-Many fine trees, such as the splendid cryptomeria, camphor and camellia, which grow to the size of forest trees, are planted round every Shinto temple in order that their timber might be utilized in the repairing thereof in the future When they grow

up and become very fine, people become fond of looking at them and, in course of time, consider them to be sacred and, as the result thereof, hang a fringe of thatch or rope round them to denote that they are the abodes of deities.†

Lafcadio Hearn has described a sacred cedar tree which is said to possess the miraculous property of curing toothache and ensuring longevity. He says:"From the hamlet of Shimonishimura to the Temple of Jama Wakasu-Jinga is a walk of twenty minutes. * Before the gate of the temple stands the famous cedar, not remarkable for height, but wonderful for girth. Two yards above the soil, its circumference is forty-five feet. It has given its name to the holy place. * Tradition avers that this tree was planted by a Buddhist nun more than eight hundred years ago. And it is alleged that whoever eats with chopsticks made from the wood of that tree will never have the toothache, and will live to become exceedingly old." He further adds: Speaking

*

Op. cit., Vol. I., p. 298.

+ Sladen's The Japs at Home, p. 184.

Hearn's Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Vol. II., p. 598.

of the supposed power of certain trees to cure toothache, I may mention a curious superstition about the yanagi, or willow tree. Sufferers from toothache sometimes stick needles into the tree, believing that the pain caused to the tree-spirit will force it to exercise its power to cure."

SECTION III.-NATURE-MYTHS AND DREAM-LORE

Japanese Beliefs about Certain Stones.-Japan is a country where the suggestiveness of natural forms is recognized. Consequently, the Japanese entertain many curious beliefs and superstitions about stones. There are to be found throughout Japan many famous stones which are held to be either sacred or haunted or to be possessed of miraculous powers. Among these are the Women's Stone at the temple of Hachiman at Kamakura, the Sesshō-seki or Death Stone of Nasu, and the Wealthgiving Stone at Enoshima, which are held in great reverence by pilgrims. There are also legends current of stones having shown sensibility, as, for instance, the Nodding Stones which bowed down in obeisance before the monk Daita when he preached the gospel of Buddha before them; and the great stone in the middle of the Ohosaka road, mentioned in the Kojiki, which, on being struck by the Emperor O-Jin with his august staff, is said to have run away."

*

Japanese Beliefs about the Thunder. The Japanese believe in the existence of a Thunder-animal. Whenever a thunderstorm comes, the women, children and, perhaps, all the members of a Japanese family will suspend their big brown mosquito-curtains and squat down thereunder till it blows over. This they do under the belief, which is current from very ancient times, that the Raiju or Thunder-animal cannot pass through mosquito-curtains,

Hearn's Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Vol. II., p. 348.

in other words, lightning cannot kill anybody concealed under a mosquito-curtain. It is further alleged that this animal springs from tree to tree during a storm; and therefore it is considered very dangerous to take shelter under trees in times of thunder and lightning. It is also believed to be fond of eating the human navel. The Japs, therefore, carefully cover up their navels and, if possible, lie down upon their stomachs during thunderstorms. Incense is always burnt during storms, as its smell is said to be repugnant to the Thunder-animal. stricken by lightning is believed to have been torn and scarred by this animal's claws; and bits of its bark and wood are carefully collected and preserved because the same are supposed to have the property of curing toothache. *

A tree

Japanese Dream-lore.-Like every other nation on the surface of the globe, the Japanese entertain various beliefs about dreams and have diverse methods for interpreting them To dream of the sacred Mountain Fuji is considerd by the Japs the luckiest of all dreams. The second best dream is that of a falcon (taku) The third in order of merit is the dream of the egg-plant (nasubi). To dream of the sun or of the moon is considered very lucky; but it is still more so to dream of stars. It is considered a very good omen for a young wife to dream of swallowing a star, which is interpreted to signify that she would become the mother of a beautiful child Dreaming of a cow or a horse is lucky; but the latter signifies travelling. To dream of rain or fire is considered a good omen. Just as in England, there are some dreams which are regarded as going by contraries." Similarly in Japan, dreaming of having one's house burnt up or of funerals, or of being dead, or of talking to a

Op. cit. Vol. II, pp. 500-501.

dead person's ghost is lucky. Some dreams, which are regarded as good if dreamt by women, signify the reverse when dreamt by persons of the opposite sex; as, for instance, it is held lucky for a woman to dream that her nose bleeds; but, if dreamt by a man, it betokens evil. To dream of much money signifies future loss; whereas dreaming of the koi or of any fresh-water fish is the most unlucky of all. The latter dream is the most curious of all, considering that, in other parts of Japan, the koi is a symbol of good fortune.* To dream of the dead is considered lucky and betokens that the dreamer will soon get married. If a dream is regarded as unlucky, it is believed that, if the fact of the dream is whispered to the nanten plant, the dream will not come true. The Japs have also got a charm for bringing lucky dreams. For this purpose, they hang over their beds takara buné or little plaited grass ships of wealth with the seven Gods of Riches seated in them. †

+

It is a cardinal article of belief among many races of people inhabiting various parts of the globe that, during sleep, the soul or spirit of the sleeper leaves the body and goes about wandering. Among the ancient Hindus, the same belief was entertained. It was believed by them that "during the dream the soul, after leaving the body, wanders at its will, builds up a world according to its fancy, creates for itself chariots and houses, lakes and rivers, manifold shapes, a gorgeous playground wherein it acts and enjoys and suffers, ' either rejoicing with women, or laughing with its friends, or beholding horrible sights.' Till at last, tired out, just as a falcon after roaming hither and thither in

Hearn's Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Vol. II., p. 353.

+ Hearn's Out of the East, p. 270.

the sky, tired, flaps its wings and is wafted to its nest,so the soul returns from that playground of his to the body; when in deep, fast sleep it wants no more, and dreams no more." Therefore they say: "Let no one wake a man brusquely; for that is a matter difficult to be cured for him if the soul find not its way back to him." Precisely the same kind of belief prevails among the Japanese. As soon as a person falls asleep, the soul is supposed to leave the body and go out to play. If anybody is awakened all of a sudden and violently, it is believed that he would die, because his soul, being absent from the body, cannot return to it after he is awakened. The soul is supposed to possess form and colour, and to be a small, round, black body; and the adventures of the disembodied soul, i.e., the black ball apart from its owner, form the stock subject of discussion in Japanese novels and imaginative literature. ‡ SECTION IV.-HOUSEHOLD CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS.

Household Customs and Superstitions.-Household superstitions influence women and children principally and have no connection with religion or the priests. Some of these are useful from a moral or educational standpoint, considering that they inculcate lessons of tidiness. and benevolence, and teach the good habits of cleanliness and nicety in house-keeping; while others are useful as weather-prognostics, or warnings intended to guard against fire or other calamities. Mr. Griffis says: "So far as I could judge, in Japan, the majority of the lower classes implicitly believe the household superstitions current among them; and though, in the upper strata of society, there were many men who laughed at them, the power of custom emboldened the women and children.