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Lafcadio Hearn - Kokoro
Then he burst into a hearty laugh, - whether at the recollection of his own cleverness in the transaction,
or at the unfortunate simplicity of the person who had sold the statue contrary to law, I could not decide.
"Afterwards," he resumed, "they wanted to get it back again, and offered me more, than I had given for
it. But I held on. I don't know everything about josses, but I do know what they are worth. There isn't
another idol like that in the whole country. The British Museum will be glad to get it."
"When do you intend to offer the collection to the British Museum?" I presumed to ask.
"Well, I first want to get up a show," he replied. "There's money to be made by a show of josses in
London. London people never saw anything like this in their lives. Then the church folks help that sort of
a show, if you manage them properly: it advertises the missions. 'Heathen idols from Japan!'... How do
you like the baby?"
I was looking at a small gold-colored image of a naked child, standing, one tiny hand pointing upward,
and the other downward, - representing the Buddha newly born. Sparkling with light he came from
the womb, as when the Sun first rises in the east.... Upright he took deliberately seven steps; and the
prints of his feet upon the ground remained burning as seven stars. And he spake with clearest utterance,
saying, "This birth is a Buddha birth. Re-birth is not for me. Only this last time am I born for the
salvation of all on earth and in heaven."
"That is what they call a Tanjo-Shaka," I said. "It looks like bronze."
"Bronze it is," he responded, tapping it with his knuckles to make the metal ring. "The bronze alone is
worth more than the price I paid."
I looked at the four Devas whose heads almost touched the roof, and thought of the story of their
apparition told in the Mahavagga. On a beautiful night the Four Great Kings entered the holy grove,
filling all the place with light; and having respectfully saluted the Blessed One, they stood in the four
directions, like four great firebrands.
"How did you ever manage to get those big figures upstairs?" I asked.
"Oh, hauled them up! We've got a hatchway. The real trouble was getting them here by train. It was the
first railroad trip they ever made.... But look at these here: they will make the sensation of the show!"
I looked, and saw two small wooden images, about three feet high.
"Why do you think they will make a sensation?" I inquired innocently.
"Don't you see what they are? They date from the time of the persecutions. Japanese devils trampling
on the Cross!"
They were small temple guardians only; but their feet rested upon X-shaped supports.
"Did any person tell you these were devils trampling on the cross?" I made bold to ask.
"What else are they doing?" he answered evasively. "Look at the crosses under their feet!"
"But they are not devils," I insisted; "and those cross-pieces were put under their feet simply to give
equilibrium."
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