The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-31 00:00:00

CUSTOMS OF THE JAPANESE.

The following are extracts from a work entitled "Man-
ners and Cu,tams of the Japanese in the Nineteenth Cen-
tury," from recent Dutch visitors of Japan, and the Ger-
man of Dr. Von Si bold

" Children of both sexes, and f all ranks, are almost
invariably sent to the inferior or primary schools, where
they learn to read and write, and acquire some knowledge
f the history of their own country. For the lower orders
this is deemed sufficient education; but of thus much, it is
positively asserted that not a day labourer in Japan is des-
titute. The children of the higher orders prcceed from
these schools to others of a superior description, where
they are carefully instructed in morals and manners, in-
cluding the whole science of good-breeding, the minutest
laws of etiquette, the forms of behavi.)ur, as graduated to-
vc ards. every individual of the whole human race, by rela-
tion, rank, and station ; including also a thorough know-
ledge of the alrnanack, since it would be as vulgarly dis-
graceful as it ciuld be disastrous, to marry, begin a
journey, c.r rake any other important step, upon the un-
lucky. day. .

"Everywhere the opperhogfd (or ebiLf of the Dutch
factory) is received by his host in full-dress, with the
national compliment of welcome ; and finally, men, women,
and children, upon the road, either perform a salutation
closely resetnhl,ng the Chinese hobo in his honour, or turn
then back upon hirr, a somewhat singular Japanese demon-
stration cf reverence, desigiiei to iniimate that the person
so turning away is unworthy to look upon the person turned
from. This last mark t,f reverence is described by the
Swede Thunherr, who adds., that the highest possible
expression of respect is, first to kotoo, and then to turn the
Lc k."

" Of the ragilus festivals, it may suffice, omitting
numbers, to say thit, in eery month there are two, some-
what analogous to our Sunday ; that the grandest annual
festival is N w Year's-day, ptecAed by the imperative
payment of (very debt tn New Yeai's-eve ; that the
hr ttiest is one in wt ich lighted lanterns are launched r.t
night upon the t ay, to a-:certain by their fate, the destiny
of the souls if deceased relatives and ft ionds ; the quee.--
est, one in which men, holding high official situations,
and of adv.inceJ years, busy themselves in flyirg kites,
the strings being thickly elvered with broken glass,
and great interest at ached to the cutting the string of
a rival's ki.e.

" In crt'.er to divert the company, sh: uld conversation
flag, and thr it own inu,ic pall on the professional mu-
►ictans, jugglers, posture-makers, and the like, are hired
fur the day. To these are added a variety of the story-
telling genus, very different in charac er from the species
ordinarily fsund in the East. There persons make it
their especial business to learn, not romances, but all the
gossip of a neighbourhood, which they retail for the en-
tertainment ot their employees. SOM,2 cf these traders
in rcindal arc frequently hired to rel'eve the teoium of
a sick-room ; but those ergaged to liven a party of plea-
sure, have a second and sorne.vhat startling duty—it is, to
set an example cf politeness and high breeding, to improve
the tone ot the so, iety that requires their seiVieeF. These
several, and not very homogeoecus functions, they arc said
to combine in a most extraordinary manner. We are as-
sured that, al, hough, in their c qacity of amusers, they in-
dulge in extp.v.ig,int buffoonery, rudeness, and impudence,
they remain pert. ctly self-possessed, and, at the proper mo-
m nt, resuming tier polished demeanour, recall the whole
company to order and good breeding."