File:Old and new Japan (1907) (14584802870).jpg

Identifier: oldnewjapan00holl (find matches)
Title: Old and new Japan
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Holland, Clive, 1866-1959 Smyth, Montagu
Subjects: Japan
Publisher: London : J.M. Dent & Co. New York : E.P. Dutton & Co.
Contributing Library: Northeastern University, Snell Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Northeastern University, Snell Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
way in all theworld — the Yomei-mon, a double gateway of cream-white lacquer, supported by four pillars of carved wood.One of these, known as mayoke no hashira (evil-avertingpillar), was erected upside down by the builders, in quaintsuperstitious awe lest the absolute perfection of the gateand temple should make the gods in heaven jealous, andthus cause them to pour down wrath upon the house ofTokugawa. The carving of this wonderful gatewaycannot be described in detail. It would require almosta little volume to itself. On the pillars appear representa-tions of tigers and cubs, with the grain of the wood in-geniously applied to form the markings ; arabesques ; andmore or less conventional designs ; and in the side nichesare patterns of graceful adaptations of the tree peony.Dragons, children at their game of Karako-asobi, Chinesesages, Rishi, all play their part in the bewildering de-signs which make the Yomei-mon not only unique butmagnificent. And above all the carving and elegance
Text Appearing After Image:
UP THE GREY, LICHEN-STAINED STEPS TO THETEMPLE <;ATE. TEMPLES AND ANCIENT SHRINES 49 is the demon-crowned roof supported by gilded dragonsheads. In this marvellous gateway one has the riotous pro-fusion of carving and design which distinguishes theornamentation of many of the Japanese temples ; growing,glowing flowers ; sculptured birds and beasts ; hanging,tinkling lotus bells ; and yet a perfect whole of mysteriousand elusive beauty. The temple, with its torii, its court-yards, its flights of steps, its wonderful balustradings, itsshrines, its gateways, its crimson fence with thousands ofcarvings, was, after all, only the work of forty years fromfirst stone to last pinnacle. And yet the carving in theYomei-mon alone might well have been the life-work ofmany artists. Beyond the great white gate is the beautiful buildingin which are housed the three mekoski, or sacred cars orpalanquins, which are borne in procession on the ist ofJune in each year, when the deified spirits of Japans

Note About Images