TALISMANS AS SAFEGUARD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 67, 11 December 1937, Page 15

TALISMANS AS SAFEGUARD

Japan's Gifts to Troops

Talismans rank high among the booming "war" industries of Japan. There is always a brisk trade in charms, s/nnetimes writtep. on paper, sometimes engraved on. wood at the more famous shrines and temples, although there is apt to be a slackening in tbe summer months. Ever since the outhreak of the fighting in China, however, there has been a marked increase in attendance at places of worship, and a corresponding increase in the sale of talismans, which are supposed fo protect the -possessors against misfortune. The Meiji Shrme, sacred to the spirit of Japan's famous Emperor, has sold over 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 work *

printing the characters by hand oH wood hlocks, The Yasukuni Shrine, devoted to the ' memory of Japanese who have falieii in battle, is now isstffllg some 30,000 charms a month, as against 50Q0 in ordinary times. M,ost of the talismans are given to soldiers who depart for the fronf. Another form of supposed protectioo is the writing of elaborate messages in classical Chinese on piece of -cloth, which are sent to officers and soldiers. The commander of a unit which distinguished itself in ihe fighting around Bhanghai received two such messages. All the members of one unjt have received talismans in the shape of red loin-cloths stitched to an aceompaniment of prayers by tbe women of their native town.