Japan and the Japanese illustrated . THE LODGE AT THE DUTCH HESIUENUV. waterfall, a gigantic tree, a fantastic rock, all things which we prosaically call naturalcuriosities, a Japanese regards with pious veneration or ^^•ith superstitious fear, accordingto whether he be more or less governed by the Buddhist demonology : and the bonzes oftlie country never fail to give tangible form to this popular tendency, by erecting a toriclose to each remarkable place. THE TEMPLE. ir, The pine-trees in the Benten avenue are lofty, slender, and for the most part bentliy the continuous action of th
Japan and the Japanese illustrated . THE LODGE AT THE DUTCH HESIUENUV. waterfall, a gigantic tree, a fantastic rock, all things which we prosaically call naturalcuriosities, a Japanese regards with pious veneration or ^^•ith superstitious fear, accordingto whether he be more or less governed by the Buddhist demonology : and the bonzes oftlie country never fail to give tangible form to this popular tendency, by erecting a toriclose to each remarkable place. THE TEMPLE. ir, The pine-trees in the Benten avenue are lofty, slender, and for the most part bentliy the continuous action of the sea-breezes. At regular distances long poles are nailedupon them crosswise, on which, on festival days, the bonzes hang inscriptions, wreaths, and swinging banners. The avenue ends in a second tori, which, with due regard to perspective, is notso lofty as the first. On approaching it, one is surprised to find tluit the avenuf. AVENUE OF THE TEMPLE AT BEXTEX. makes a sudden bend and 2^iolongs itself on the right. Here all is mystery ; a wasteground, covered with rank grasses, bushes, and slender pines with aerial foliage; onthe left, the calm transparent water of a little gulf formed by an arm of the river;in front is a wooden bridge, liuilt in a style of severe elegance, wide, and excessivelycurved ; behind this bridge is a third tori, thrown out agiiinst the tliiek foliage of 16 LIFE IN JAPAN. a grove of fine trees. The whole forms a strange picture, with something in it thatexcites a secret apprehension. This bridge, whose pillars are decorated with ornamentsin copper, finally admits us to the sacred place. The third tori, bearing on its summitan inscription in gold letters on a black ground, is entirely built of fine granite ofremarkable whiteness ; and the tombs, which are tastefully disposed on the left side of theavenue, are constructed of the same material. The temple, almost entiiely hidden by thebr
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidjapanjapanes, bookyear1874
