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and all the gods are to be worshipped, so that they may be induced to increase their favours. To compel obedience from human beings, and to love them was all the sovereign had to do, and there was no necessity for teaching them vain doctrines such as are preached in other countries. Hence the art of Government is called Matsurigoto, which literally means “worshipping?” Accordingly the early sovereigns worshipped the gods in person, and prayed that their people might enjoy a sufficiency of food, clothing and shelter from the elements, and twice a year, in the 6th and 12th months, they celebrated the festival of the “General Purification[1], by which the whole nation was purged of calamities, offences and pollutions.’
‘Although in later ages many foreign customs were adopted we find that the religious rites of Shintô always occupied the first place in the books wherein are recorded the rules and ceremonies of the court. For instance, the first book of the ten which are called Riô no Gige[2] is occupied with the rules of the Department of Religion (Jingi Riô). Of the fifty volumes of the Yengi Shiki[3] the first ten are devoted to Shintô matters. The norito (liturgies) contained in the 8th volume are not the private prayers of the Mikado, but are those used at the festivals which he celebrated on behalf of the whole people. The 9th and 10th volumes contain the names of 3132 gods in 2861 temples at which the Court worshipped (either personally or by special envoys). In the Shokugenshô (1341) of Takabataké Chikafusa the constitution of the Department of Religion is described even before that of the Council of State. In the reign of Kôtoku (645-654) in answer to an inquiry as to how the people were to be ruled, all the ministers of the
- ↑ The ohobarai was one of the most characteristic of all Shintô festivals. The liturgy used in celebrating it has been made the subject of numerous commentaries besides those of Mabuchi and Motoöri. It is still observed in the present day.
- ↑ The text, called Riô, dates from the year 718, and the commentary Gige from 833. Hirata is incorrect in saying that the Jingi Riô comes first; it is in reality preceded by five other sections, forming Book I.
- ↑ The preface of the Yengi Shiki is dated 927.
