Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 323

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. X.

309

1. The Chinese worship two deities under the title of Shangte, the one they denominate

Yuhwang Shangte, the gem imperial Shangte, and which is meant in the sketch here translated; and the other

Heuenteën Shangte, or Shangte of the sombre heavens, a sketch of which is also contained in the Sow Shin Ke. The Yuhwang Shangte holds the highest rank in the whole Chinese mythology, and is a very popu- lar idol. Mr. Medhurst has written a Christian tract of eight pages, enti- tled The Birth-day of Shangte, which seems to have more especial reference to the Heuenteën Shangte.

Laoukeun

2. The sect of Taou, or Rationalism, was founded by who was cotemporary with Confucius, about 550 years before the Christian era. The Sow Shin Ke contains a sketch of the wonderful origin of Laou-

keun.

3. Taoukeun, the Prince of Reason, is only another appellation of Laoukeun.

4. The Chinese make three of their cycles of sixty years comprise one period or age; the first of the three they call Shangyuen, the second

Chungyuen, and the third

Heayuen, and as these three

deities bear respectively the same appellations it is possible that they might have derived it from this manner of reckoning the cycles. The Shangyuen, Chungyuen, and Heäyuen deities are said to be principally worshiped by the doctors of the Taou sect.

5.

Lungwang, the dragon king, is represented as the deity pre- siding over oceans, seas, and fishes, but is not regarded as an object of worship. He is the Chinese Neptune.

6. 3.

Teëntsun the celestial superior, here means Yuhwang Shangte. The phrase is given in Morrison's Dictionary as an epithet of Budha.' It is perhaps so applied on certain occasions, but not in the present instance.

ART. III. Notices of Japan, No. X.: sketch of the religious sects of the Japanese, and principal particulars of the modern his- tory of Japan.

THE history of Japan is, in its commencement at least, so connected with the religion of the country, that, in the little here intended to be said of either, the latter seems naturally to take precedence of the former.

The original national religion of Japan is denominated Sinsyu, from the words sin (the gods) and syu, (faith); and its votaries are called Sintoo. Such, at least, is the general interpretation; but Dr. Von Siebold asserts the proper indigenous name of this religion to be Kami-no-michi, meaning, the way of the kami,' or gods, which the Chinese having translated into Shin-taou, the Japanese subse quently adopted that appellation, merely modifying it into Sintoo,

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