The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-06-16
Select HlisrclIa,lD.
The Japanese.

| A vast amount of very valuable information
in reference 30 the manners and customs of
the japanese has been gwen of late. in the
city papers. which is the more interesting at
present, owing to the presence in our country
of the distinguished embassy from that far
off land.
Our space has not permitted us. heretofore.
to copy any of this interesting matter. For
the hcneit of those of our readers who do not
get the city daies or weeklies. We insert
the following items Of genera. interest in
reference to this remote and. in many respects,
singular people.
SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC LIFE OF WIVES.
The Japanese women are subjected to no
jealous secuSion, but hold a far station in
society, and share in all the innocent recrca-
tons of their fathers and husbands. Death
would be the consequence of detection in
fragrant violation. of confidence The Japan
csc ladies are generally lively and agreeable
companions. and the ease and eloquence of
their manners have been highly eXIolled.-
But STILL during their whole lives they are
kept in a state of tuteage: that is of com
plete dependence upon their husbands. sons.
or other relatives. They have no legal rights,
and heir evidence is not admitted in court
| of justice. The japanese husband under all
circumstances, is Obliged to support his
reputed wife, according To his station, unless
he can produce grounds for divorce sai>fac-
| tory to the tribunal. But under no circum-
| stances, can wife demand to be separated
from her husband At home, the wife is
mistress Of the family; but in other respects
| she is treated rather as toy for her husbands
amusement. than as the rational confidential
| partner Of his life. She is expected TO please
him by her accomplishments. to cheer hun
with her lively conversation. but never suffered
to share his more serious thought o r to relieve
his cares. Ignorant of his business affairs,
she must not presume to question him in
relation to them. That would be unpardon-
| able presumption.
RELIGION OF JArAN.
| One of the most interesting features Of the
| japanese is their religion. 1t is based entirely
| upon belief in gods and godlcsscs, who they
believe have existed from eternity, and will
continue to exist forever With one sovcr.
eighty they claimed that it reigned, instead
or myriadS. about $50, 900 years. and was
| followed by four other gods, who reigned
over 1000 600 years. The principal duties
| enj"incd are LIST, preservation of fire. as the
embed Of purity and instrument of puriiica-
ton; ID, purity of soul heart and body. the
former to he observed by obedience to the
dictates of reason and the law in the latter
by abstinence from whatever dplies. 3rd.
observance of feStival days, 4'h. rl.ri,na.c.
and 5.h the worship of the k0mi, both in the
temples and at home. Tie impurities to he
avoided are non association with the impure,
or hearing obscene, wicked or brutal language.
by eating Of certai meats. and by contact
with blood and death. Pilgrimage is the
grand act Of devotion. and there are two and
twenty shrlnes commanding such homage
The first and most important of their religious
systems is Buddhism. the most widely diluScd
of all false crecdS In this connection it is
unnecessary to add that the great mass of ,hc
people most heartily drteSt and abhor the
principles Of the Christian religion.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Capital punishment and sentence of death
always involves contisca ton Of property and
disgrace to the family of the criminal and
hence man of high order publicly accused,
and conscious of guilt, will prevent his trial
by immediate suicide. Prisoners are often
tortured TO extoit confession, and should the
operation result fatally, the execulioner is not
held responsible. The condemned criminal
set upon horse, is led to the place of exocu-
ton and his crime made known by hostiny
a flag. lie is then seated upon a straw mat,
and his head struck off with a sword. 1t is
then set up upon p"!e for three days. -
This is the most mercilul form of execution,
since 1t is known that prisoners are often
publicly tortured TO death and the SKI of
an cxeculioncr is measured by the number of
wounds that he can iniict without taking
life. Upon these occasions the young mobiles
lend their swords to try the edge and temper
of a new blade, and many take delight in
Witnessing cXcrnciating torture. One species
is that IN which shut of reeds. the crim.
nels only garm,nt. is set on fire. This is
deemed so exec, dinghy entertaining from the
sufferers agonlzed conorrons. that it has
acquired the name of - the death dance"
The prisons are perfect heHs. They are
crowded together in SMALL rooms. ventilated
ON by solitary grated window in the roof
and the doors are never opeucd, except to
, carry in or bring out prisoner. The capti
YES are refused books, pipes, and recreation
of any kind. The filth Of these dungeons is
removed through hole III the wall. and
through the same hole the food the prisoner
is introduced. Their victuals are of the
worst description, except when friends present
better. and then he cannot receive it unless it
he sufficient to satisfy the appettes Of all in
his dungeon.
TIE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN.
Like most Oriental States, the government
is dcSpotic, but got so in the commonly .lccci-
we'd idea Of despo,iSm. Whilst liberty, how
ever, is indeed unknown, existing not even in
the ordinary intercourse of man with man, on
the other hand no individual in the whole
nation, he he even so high. is above the law.
Both sovereigns, the supreme Mikmlo and his
ruling vlcegerent, the Tycoon (Ziagoon), are
as completely cnthralled as the mcancst of
their subjects it is feudal empire in the
strctest sense of TIE term. The M,knlo, as
being the successor and representative Of the
gods, is the nominal proprietor, as well as
Sovereign Of the realm and his dominionS,
divided into pTnci pallties, are he'd IN vassal-
age by their respective hereditary princess
AS for the Tycoon, he seldom passes beyond
the limits of his palace enclosure, even his
religious journeys being performed by depr-
ties, and the important ceremonies of State