was born in Sri Lanka, and came to Wales to convalesce during World War II. After the War he moved to Llanelen (a few miles North of Goytre Wharf) where he did most of the research for Rape of the Fair Country, before moving to Holywell Road in Abergavenny, his home for many years. 
The Religions of Japan
I spoke just now of Shinto Temples. Shintoism is the older of the two principal religions of Japan.
It teaches worship of the sun goddess and of her descendants the Emperors, or Mikados, of Japan; and it teaches also obedience to the reigning Mikado, and the need of purity, though on this last point it is anything but clear and helpful.
Brave, learned and benevolent men are worshipped in the Shinto temples, and so also are various natural objects and other gods which have been added from time to time.
Outside each Shinto Temple is a straw rope with tassels, and a bell which must be rung to attract the attention of the gods. And each worshipper, before entering, must rinse his mouth and wash his hands. Once inside, he claps his ands to call the gods again, throws some money on the ground, kneels down several times and mutters a few words, and then his prayers are over.
(I wonder if it is the same 130 years later on.)
what is the meaning of the straw rope? Well once in the olden days of which I was telling you a little while ago, the sun goddess was offended and hid herself in a cavern. This so distressed the other gods, who were now left in darkness and confusion, that when at last they enticed her out, they threw a straw rope round her to hold her tight and prevent her from leaving them again. And ever since then the straw rope has been a symbol of her worship.
The other great religion of Japan is Buddhism. About twelve hundred years ago (Remember this book was written over 120years ago.). some Buddhist priests, statues, prayer-books, etc. were sent to Japan from the neighbouring country of Korea, with a recommendation of the merits of Buddhism. The Mikado gave all the presents away, and said that he wished the Koreans would send him physicians, apothecaries, artists, and learned men, instead of priests.
But time wore on and many of the Japanese, first amongst the rich and then amongst the poor, adopted the faith of Buddha, which became at last the prevailing religion of the country, and so has continued during the last six hundred years.
.About the time Buddhism began it is thought that Jimmu Tenno was reigning over Japan, though the exact date is not known, an Indian prince, called Gautama, became so distressed by the sight of the suffering he saw all round him that he determined to leave his wife and his one little son, and go into the desert and there think and think until he could make out what all the misery meant.
In order to think more clearly, he denied himself for seven years in every possible way. And then light broke upon him, and he felt that he had arrived at 'perfect knowledge.' And this was his conclusion: "Everyone who exists must suffer, because everyone desires something; let man deny his desires, then, till he has none left; and he will be rewarded by losing his existence in nothingness."
Does it not sound dreary? And yet when Gautama, or Buddha (the enlightened), as we must now call him, went back with his 'perfect knowledge' to the world, he taught certainly some very excellent things. A. R. B.
There is an awful lot more to read in this fascinating book from the days of the early missionaries in Asia and I could probably fill a whole chapter of many pages with the same. But as this book is now in print once more, I won't. Instead I will add a few more of the wonderful pictures between the two Japanese special pages here and the Asian art pages at http://diddilydeedot.zoomshare.com/ and there you can look to Japan in 1888 and before, and I shall possible place the same pictures here, at Japan Dodie - Dream world. ,
I believe Amazon.co.uk have copies for sale, maybe, even a look through book on line should you be interested.
Dodie
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