up poisons and impurities of winter—a kind of purification of the soul by means of the cleansing of the body and of all places where both are housed. In temple grounds, in the streets, in private shrines, little images of the infant Buddha are set up, as, in Catholic countries, the figure of the Christ-Child is seen at Christmas. But then comes the odd part: liquorice tea in an open jar is set beside these images, and from time to time is poured over the figure with a ladle. This tea is bought by all and taken home to drink,—to ‘kill worms,’ they say,—and is set at the corners of the house to prevent ants and other insects from coming in. Sometimes favourite trees in the garden get a dose of this germicide, less to make them holy than to ward off the creepy, crawly things that love them not more wisely, but as well as the owners.
In April the many feasts of Cherry-viewing begin. Some time about the middle or third week in the month, when the Cherry blossoms are at the height of their beauty in Tokio, the Emperor’s far-famed garden-party to view the flowers is held.[1] This is the show affair of the year. All the Court are there, the Emperor and royal princes dignified in spite of their foreign frock-coats or uniforms aglitter with
- ↑ This festival was inaugurated in the ninth century (of our era) by the Emperor Sago. It still occurs annually—of late years in the garden of the old summer palace of the Shoguns, Shiva Kikyu.
