Following this, the invited guests began to arrive and were conducted to two cuter places of attend: ance, while court ritualists busied theniselves putting the nishi touches to the Yuki Den and Den, the two brushwood structures in the Emperor was to tin prayer and comm with the gods, By this time night had descended on the ancient city of Kyoto, and were kindled at the purpose. This done, the Ee: neror himself entered and' the members of his retinue passed on to their places of tendance in the entered levies near by.
The Emperor hav outer chamber, the panied by prince ies passed from the Ablution Hall along the same way as that taken the former procession and enter another structure close by.
To the accompaniment of further ritual, two groups of court musie-ians ' were conducted to selected points, one group rendering ancient music, after which the other broke into song, such songs as might have been heard out in the open sung by Japanese peasants while working. in the rice fields 2,000 years The music ended and th withdrawn, the Empress and her retinue worshipped toward the Yuki Den and then retired once more to the Hall of Ablution, Then followed the most pictur es que movement of the entire cere-many, namely, the precession of sacred food offerings. From the cock-baure on the east there pass ed to the southern stairs of the Yuki Den a colourful line of ritwalists te, while lanterns were lit and female attendants, hearings th he two simple edifices utensils and offerings' to be used, All being now ready, the Meading this proceeded to the Kairyu De aside for his abl ide came a ritualist nce torch bearers, Rehind. them ication prior to his solemn three more ritualists, each bearings vigil, Wearing a simple one of the special utensils of primi= garment of hemp, he entered tive design square-shaped bath of primitive '\hite following these quired in the ceremon} they hit ablutions, "donned ceremonial [f2m™e, the chief Of the Rising Sun with, the Pau: the Emperor and the n ame as those of @ father and his
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.