DIVINATION AND INSPIRATION
=Divination.=—The most ancient official method of divination was
by interpreting the cracks made by fire on the shoulder-blade
of a deer. This process is known in many places from Siberia to
Scotland, in which latter country it is called ‘reading the speal’
(_épaule_). A tortoise-shell was afterwards substituted for the deer’s
shoulder-blade, in imitation of China. There was attached to the palace
a college of diviners whose business it was to ascertain by this means
whether a proposed expedition would be successful, the best site for
a shrine, a tomb, or a dwelling-house, from what provinces the rice
for the Ohonihe should be taken, etc. etc. With private persons,
the Tsuji-ura, or cross-road divination, was a favourite method of
ascertaining the future. The person who wished to consult the god
went out at dusk to a cross-roads and inferred the answer to his
question from the chance words spoken by the first person who made his
appearance. Other kinds of divination were by the sound of a boiling
cauldron, or of a harp, by lots, by beans boiled in gruel, by the head
of a dog or fox that had been starved to death, and by dreams and
omens. Ordeal was practised by fire and boiling water.
=Inspiration.=—There are frequent notices of oracles in the old
records. Legend has preserved an ‘inspired utterance’ given forth
by the Goddess Uzume before the Rock-cave of Heaven to which the
Sun-goddess had retired. It consists of the numerals from one to
ten! The famous legendary invasion of Korea by the Empress Jingo was
suggested by a deity. Oracles had generally reference to the worship of
the god concerned, directing that a shrine should be built for him, or
religious observances inaugurated in his honour. They were sometimes
used for political purposes. There is evidence that the inspired
person, generally a woman, delivered the divine message when in a
hypnotic trance. This is undoubtedly the case at the present time. Mr.
P. Lowell’s _Occult Japan_ gives a detailed description of a séance of
this kind at which he was present. There are mediums in Japan as there
are nearer home, who, for a consideration, will place their customers
in communication with deceased friends or relatives.
Divination and the hypnotic trance are not recognised by modern or
official Shinto.