Ark of the covenant of Israel (left) and
"Omikoshi" ark of Japan (right)
“The Bible says that when David brought up the ark into
Jerusalem, "David was clothed in a robe of fine linen" (1
Chronicles 15:27). The same was true for the priests and choirs. In the
Japanese Bible, this verse is translated into "robe of white linen."
In ancient Israel, although the high priest wore a colorful robe, ordinary
priests wore simple white linen. Priests wore white clothes at holy
events.
Japanese priests also wear white robes at holy events”.
So often we have found
the Greco-Romans appropriating Hebrew lore, customs, writings, etc. Even the
Japanese, it seems, if we can believe this:
In the Bible, in First
Chronicles, chapter 15, it is written that David brought up the ark of the
covenant of the Lord into Jerusalem.
David and the elders of
Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark
of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing.
...Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites
who were carrying the ark, and as were the singers, and Kenaniah, who was in
charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.
So all Israel brought up
the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of
rams' horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.
(15:25-28)
….
When I read these
passages, I think; "How well does this look like the scene of
Japanese people carrying our 'omikoshi' during festivals? The shape of the
Japanese 'Omikoshi' appears similar to the ark of the covenant. Japanese sing
and dance in front of it with shouts, and to the sounds of musical instruments.
These are quite similar to the customs of ancient Israel."
….
Japanese carry the
"omikoshi" on their shoulders with poles - usually two poles. So
did the ancient Israelites: "The Levites carried the ark of God with
poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the
word of the LORD." (1 Chronicles 15:15) The Israeli ark of the
covenant had two poles (Exodus 25:10-15). Some restored models of the ark
as it was imagined to be have used two poles on the upper parts of the
ark. But the Bible says those poles were to be fastened to the ark by the
four rings "on its four feet" (Exodus 25:12). Hence, the poles
must have been attached on the bottom of the ark. This is similar to the
Japanese "omikoshi." The Israeli ark had two statues of gold
cherubim on its top. Cherubim are a type of angel, heavenly being having wings
like birds. Japanese "omikoshi" also have on its top the gold
bird called "Ho-oh" which is an imaginary bird and a mysterious heavenly
being. The entire Israeli ark was overlaid with gold. Japanese
"omikoshi" are also overlaid partly and sometimes entirely with
gold. The size of an "omikoshi" is almost the same as the
Israeli ark. Japanese "omikoshi" could be a remnant of the ark
of ancient Israel.
Many Things Concerning
the Ark Resemble Japanese Customs.
King David and people of
Israel sang and danced to the sounds of musical instruments in front of
the ark. We Japanese sing and dance to the sounds of musical instruments
in front of "omikoshi" as well. Several years ago, I saw an American-made
movie titled "King David" which was a faithful story of the
life of King David. In the movie, David was seen dancing in front of
the ark while it was being carried into Jerusalem. I thought: "If the
scenery of Jerusalem were replaced by Japanese scenery, this scene would
be just the same as what can be observed in Japanese festivals." The
atmosphere of the music also resembles the Japanese style. David's
dancing appears similar to Japanese traditional dancing.
At the Shinto
shrine festival of "Gion-jinja" in Kyoto, men carry
"omikoshi," then enter a river, and cross it. I can't help but think
this originates from the memory of the Ancient Israelites carrying the ark
as they crossed the Jordan river after their exodus from Egypt.
In a Japanese
island of the Inland Sea of Seto, the men selected as the carriers of
the "omikoshi" stay together at a house for one week before they
would carry the "omikoshi." This is to prevent profaning
themselves. Furthermore on the day before they carry "omikoshi,"
the men bathe in seawater to sanctify themselves. This is similar to an
ancient Israelite custom:
"So the priests and
the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of
Israel." (1 Chronicles 15:14)
The Bible says that
after the ark entered Jerusalem and the march was finished, "David
distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf
of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins" (1 Chronicles
16:3). This is similar to a Japanese custom. Sweets are distributed to
everyone after a Japanese festival. It was a delight during my childhood.
The Robe of Japanese
Priests Resembles the Robe of Israeli Priests.
The Bible says that when
David brought up the ark into Jerusalem, "David was clothed in a robe
of fine linen" (1 Chronicles 15:27). The same was true for the
priests and choirs. In the Japanese Bible, this verse is translated into
"robe of white linen." In ancient Israel, although the high
priest wore a colorful robe, ordinary priests wore simple white linen.
Priests wore white clothes at holy events. Japanese priests also wear
white robes at holy events. In Ise-jingu, one of the oldest Japanese
shrines, all of the priests wear white robes. And in many Japanese Shinto shrines,
especially traditional ones, the people wear white robes when they carry
the "omikoshi" just like the Israelites did. Buddhist priests wear
luxurious colorful robes. However, in the Japanese Shinto religion, white is
regarded as the holiest color. The Emperor of Japan, just after he finishes
the ceremony of his accession to the throne, appears alone in front of the
Shinto god. When he arrives there, he wears a pure white robe covering
his entire body except that his feet are naked. This is similar to the
action of Moses and Joshua who removed their sandals in front of God to be
in bare feet (Exodus 3:5, Joshua 5:15). Marvin Tokayer, a rabbi who
lived in Japan for 10 years, wrote in his book: "The linen robes which
Japanese Shinto priests wear have the same figure as the white linen robes
of the ancient priests of Israel. "
Japanese Shinto
priest in white robe with fringes
The Japanese Shinto
priest robe has cords of 20-30 centimeters long (about 10 inches) hung
from the corners of the robe. These fringes are similar to those of the
ancient Israelites. Deuteronomy 22:12 says: "make them fringes in the...
corners of their garments throughout their generations." Fringes
(tassels) were a token that a person was an Israelite. In the gospels of
the New Testament, it is also written that the Pharisees "make their
tassels on their garments long" (Matthew 23:5). A woman who had been
suffering from a hemorrhage came to Jesus (Yeshua) and touched the "tassel
on His coat" (Matthew 9:20, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language
of the People, translated by Charles B. Williams). Imagined pictures of ancient
Israeli clothing sometimes do not have fringes. But their robes actually
had fringes. The Jewish Tallit (prayer shawl), which the Jews put on when
they pray, has fringes in the corners according to tradition.
Japanese Shinto priests
wear on their robe a rectangle of cloth from their shoulders to thighs.
This is the same as the ephod worn by David: "David also wore a linen
ephod." (1 Chronicles 15:27) Although the ephod of the high
priest was colorful with jewels, the ordinary priests under him wore the
ephods of simple white linen cloth (1 Samuel 22:18). Rabbi Tokayer states
that the rectangle of cloth on the robe of Japanese Shinto priest looks
very similar to the ephod of the Kohen, the Jewish priest. The Japanese Shinto
priest puts a cap on his head just like Israeli priest did (Exodus 29:40).
The Japanese priest also puts a sash on his waist. So did the Israeli priest.
The clothing of Japanese Shinto priests appears to be similar to the clothing
used by ancient Israelites. …. [etc.].
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