Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-15
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY Is, 1860.
Jananese Honor and Disregard of Life.


The anecdote related by us a few days
ago. illustrative of the custom of duellng IN
.Japan, was undoubtedly authentic. The
essence of duelling in that country, as was
shown by that anecdote Is suicide. lhat IS
in reality the essence of duelling everywhere;
but the japanese are the only ones VINO car
~ the theory out fully, into bold ana peril
nent practice. Our duellists virtually COM
nit suicide by throwing their lives INTO
each others hands; but they are neverthe-
less very glad to escape the logical ana nat
ural results of their philosophy, by lodging
the shot or the stab which they invite, and
seldom find any difficulty in healing up their
wounded honor without theintllctlon OF phys
ical injury. Not so with the more coura-
ceous and more consistent Japanese. with
them dishonor is certain death; and to make
assurance sure, they take their lives with
their own unfaltering hands, instead OF leav-
ing the issue to the chance shot OF an mex
perienccd marksman, or the trembling hand
of a timid antagonist. With our Washing
ton practitioners, honor is as easily cured
as wounded. \ Japanese challenge requires
that both parties shall stop their mouths,
and stay their appetites forever, which re-
QUESTION each fultls for himself by the very
delicate and summary operation OF making
an etfectual and fatal hole in his abdominal
region And each strives to anticipate the
other in the tragical performance.
The anecdote referred to was probably
founded upon the following incident, for the
truth of which we have the authority of a
credible writer on Japan. Two gentlemen
of the court having met on the staircase of
the Imperial palace, their sabrcs CHANGED to
strike one against the other. The one who
Was going down considered the circumstance
an atfront, although the one who was ascend
ing, and who was encountered at the time
with dish for the Emperor's table, attribut-
ed it to accident, adding, however, after
all, my sabre is as good as yours" Il Will
soon show YOU the difference between the
two" replied the first, and suiting the action
to the word, he drew his sabre and applied
it with deadly effect to the consccrated alb
domen. The other, as soon as he could 20
up stairs and perform his duty to the En-
peror, hurried back to his expiring adversa-
rv, end expressing his joy at finding him
still alive, declared that nothing but his SER
vice to the Emperor had prevented his being
beforehand with him, and that he had now
come to prove that his sabre was fully equal
20 his. Whereupon he proceeded to open
his bowels Of honor, and was soon Il corpse
at his fallen enemy's side.
The japanese in other cases make even
Il nicer point of honor than this, and carry
the principle of suicide to an extreme which,
if the habit should obtain in this country,
would make Il good many vacancies IN our
official stations, and help us along material
|" with our tayorite theory of rotation in of
fee. All military men, the servants of the
Emperor, and persons holding civil Offices UNI
der the government, are bound by the rule Of
honor which prevails in Japan, whenever
they have committed any miSdemcanor, to
offer their lives rs Il sacrifice, and to become
heir own exccutionerS, by this tayorite pro-
cess of ripping themselves open. They must
not Il. this, however, until they have receiv-
cd a formal order to that effect from the pro-
Der auihorities Ifthey should anticipate such
an order their heirs would run the risk of
icing deprived Of their property and places.
Officers of government are said to be provi-
ded, In addition To their usual dress, with \
particular suit for this sacrltcal occaslUn.--
1t consists OF Il white robe and a habit OF Ger
emony made of hempen cloth, and without
armorial bearings. Officials carry these
dresses with them when they travel; but
whether our expected visitors, in view OF
auy possible emergency, have brought their
winding-sheets with them to this country,
can only be learned from the master OF the
robes attached to the embassy.
As soon az the order for suicide has been
duly communicated to the culprit, he Invites
his intimate friends to come and take leave of
him in drauyht of saki After due drink
=, l. ba
draws his sabre and performs the duty of
Self-inmolation, in the usual mode, in the
presence of the assembled friends. Should
a culprit prove coward and decline to hon
or his memory in this manner, the punish
ment is inflicted upon him by the imperial
officers, and in such case his whole family
periShes with him in intamy and dishonor.
The best friends of the culprit sometimes I'M
molate themselves with him; and servants &C
taaIly make it part of their agreement with
their masters that they shall enjoy this right.
This disregard of death, which the Japa-
neSe prefer to the slightest disgrace, extends
to the lowest classes and to both sexes. y
gentleman of Fingo had n wife OF exquisite
beauty, who was tenderly attached him.
The Emperor, smtten by the lady beauty,
caused the husband to be put to death, and
ordered the widow to be removed to the
palace She obtained a respite thirty days,
10 deplore the loss of her husband. without
appearing to reject the protfered favors Of
the Emperor. At the expiration ofthe time
she gave an entertainment to her friends
thc monarch himself honoring it with his
presence. On rising from the table she went
to lofty balcony, and pretending to look
eagerly at some distant object, threw herself
rom the balcony before the face of the En-
ocror, and at once put an end to her SORROWS
end her life Boston Coulicr.