TALISMANS FOR TROOPS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 52, 24 November 1937, Page 7

TALISMANS FOR TROOPS

Our Own Correspondent.)

Japanese Cause Boom in Charms

(From

TOKIO, Oct. 26. Talismans rank high among the booming "w r" industries of Japan. Theru is always a brisk trade in charms, sometimes written on paper, sometimes engraved on wood at the more famous shrines and temples, although there is apt to he a slackening in the summer months. Ever since the outbreak of the fightSng in China, however, there has been a marked increase in attendance at places of worsliip, and a corresponding increase in the sale of talismans, which aro supposed to protect the possessors against misfortuhe. The Meiji iShrine, sacred to the spirit of Jqpan's famous Emperor, has sold qver 50,000 talismans during the last month, as- against a normal average of 15,000 to 16,000. Four priests of the' shrine go through purification ceremonies every day, and then set to Woik printing the characters by hdnd on wood bloeks. The Yasukuni Shrine, devoted to the memory of Japanese who have fallen in battje, is now issuing spme 30,000 charms a month, as against 5000 in ordinary times. Most of the talismans - are given to soldiers who depart for the front. Another form of supposed protection is the writing of elaborate messages in classical Ohinese on pieees of cloth, which are sent to oflicers and soldiers. Tho commander of a unit which distinguished itself in the fighting ardund Shanghai received two such messages. All tlie memhers of on.e unit have received talismans in the shape of red loin-clotihs stitched to an accompaniment of prayers by the women of thqir, native town. •