Studio: international art (18.1900)

Japanese Religious Plays

1 THE EXORCISM OF JEALOUSY FROM AOI-NO-UYF." FROM A COLOUR PRINT BY KOGYO

fifing of the musicians rise to frenzied pitch; adju- than it was to the Greek temperament. And, if

ration succeeds adjuration, until the evil spirit is one had to guess which divinity or divinities are

finally driven away. Nothing can exceed the realism regarded with more affection than awe by such

of this scene, so masterfully played that the hardest lighthearted worshippers, one would certainly name

Agnostic must be indeed fancy-proof if he cannot the Rokujizo, or Six Jizo. While Buddha and

feel something of the awe inspired into believers Kwannon, Tenjin and Inari dwell in small or

by this terrific duel. Moreover, this is exactly the stately temples, augustly apart, the six Jizo sit

sort of incident which exhibits to the full extent of sociably in a row by the roadside or on the out-

their potency the peculiar characteristics of No skirts of a shrine, protected, if protected at all, from

drama. What human face, however disguised and the weather by a plain, wooden shed. For they

distorted, could rival the malignant horror of a belong to the class of open-air, minor deities,

Japanese mask ? What mincing and gibing Mephis- familiarly known as " wet gods." Yet they play a

topheles could compare for a moment with the large part in the emotional life of the people. The

devilish ingenuity and suspense of this posture- amusing Kidgen, named Rokujizo, seemed to please

pantomime, with its endless feints and threats and the younger members of our audience infinitely more

sallies and retreats ? And how the anguish of battle than the romantic and spectral dramas which pre-

is enhanced by the " barbaric yawp " and sharp, ceded it. A pious farmer, anxious to attest his

intermittent drum-taps, which excite, without dis- gratitude for a good harvest, resolves to put up six

tracting, the spellbound audience ! So abrupt and Jizo effigies in his fields, and, seeking a sculptor to

discreet is the interjected cry of the immobile carry out his design, falls in with a knavish fellow,

musicians that one might easily take it for the who boasts that he can carve statues more quickly

defiant or hortative outburst of an invisible spirit than any one else in the world, and promises that

attracted to the ghostly combat. the six shall be finished by the following day. The

Good-humoured drollery, of which the gods come bargain is concluded. Then the pseudo-sculptor

in for a fair share, is no more alien to the Japanese persuades three confederates to personate Jizo,

161