Feki, the Blind Men of

Feki, The Blind Men Of an order of blind devotees in Japan, instituted in A.D. 1150. There is a legend that their founder, Feki, was captured by Joritomo. The captive, though kindly treated, not being able to look upon his captor without an irresistible desire to kill him, plucked out his eyes and presented them to Joritomo. There is another more ancient but less numerous order of the blind, claiming as its founder a son of one of the emperors of Japan, who cried himself blind at the death of his beautiful princess. This last society is composed of none but ecclesiastics; the other consists of secular persons of all ranks. They are not supported by alms, like many other devotees, but most of them are mechanics, who earn their own living.