Almost all Japanese cherish the hope of visiting this shrine
at least once in their lives, and many a Tokio merchant
thinks that his success in business depends largely on his
doing so. Pilgrimages are an ancient institution in Japan*
It is recorded that in the ninth month of 934^ 10,000^000
pilgrims of all classes visited the shrines of Ise.
Boys and even girls often run away from their homes and
beg their way to Ise, This is regarded as a pardonable
escapade.
When an actual visit to a shrine is inconvenient or

* Sec Index p R^kk&n Skojo,



246 WORSHit*.
impossible, the worshipper may offer his devotions from a
distance. This is called eni-pai^ or distant worship. Special
shrines are provided ip some places where the God will
accept such substituted service. Processions may be joint
formal visits of the worshippers to the God*s shrinejbut
they oftener consist in attending him on an excursion from
it to some place in the neighbourhood and back agiin.
They much resemble in character the carnival processions
of Southern Europe.
Circuinambalaiion The Brahmanic and Buddlist

ceremony o{ pradakchina^ that is, going round a holy object
with one's right side turned to it, is not found in Shinto.
