New-York tribune., 1879-12-21
SECRET SOCIETIES IN The EAST


Our attention has been called lately. by an
article III The Japan N0u, 10 the existence OF an or
gan;zatiun in Japan called the KOmOso Society,
similar To the Chinese institutions. This is SEMI
monastcal association, not unlike the order oi
Templars. Its existence was formerly recognized
by the Government III the early part OF the seven
teentl century, and certain lands were granted 10
it by the IOkuglwa dynasty OF Shoguns. lhe
society was filled from the ranks OF the Sdmurdi
class alone There seems good ground for believing
that il a refuge for men no had accidentally
taken hf', or committed some breach OF the pune
tIlious laws Of honor. wounded fellow CLANS
man by miSadycniure. Many, whose histories re-
semble that of the Hermit of Engedd IN Scotts
"iaIsman" doubtless found refuge anu oblivion by
asSumjng the willie robe OF the hOnoso. None were
admitted into the ranks of the hood who had
been guilty OF the meancr crimes. Inc chiei was
invested with pricstly character, ana usually re-
sided at the chief temple in the province of owan.
He had power of life and death over his
fellows, aud was so far independent OF the
the brethren to DEATH pToviccd he formally
reportcd to the authorities that he had punished an
Offender against the laws OF Komoso. according to
its recognized rules. lie was not required 10 specify
the offence for which exemplary punishinent had
been inflicted on the err1ng brother. lhe society
has never II seems, been large one, as, after a
man had availed himself Of the privileges of asylum
which the fraternity Afforded he often retired TO
his Own province. using the komoso rs sanctuary
to protect him until the trouble Tor wnich lie had
soTghi It's shelter WAS fairly blown over.
Various s;oriesare told of romantic ncidents occur
ring in connection with the guild Inc dfamatlst
had not failed 10 employ the machinery OF the secret
order " and an effective scene IN the great
tragedy which is founded on the story of The
"Fortv-seveu R6nin" introduces the avenger
dressed IN the white robes OF Komoso. Men have
been known to join the society with view to carry
cut IN safety plans of revenge on the murdcrerof
relative. ana have found the murderer taking
refuge in the same temple IN the dress, OF
the brotherhood. The tragic climax Of such
situation rs reached when the ayenger carries
out the vendetta by killing the man ne sought, i'll
spite all baths and bonds of union. The peculiar
garl selected by the k0mOso reminds one OF the
old Jewish Esscncs, b It with this the resemblance
hat ~ JAPANESE
mysics wore a peculiar hat and carried a bute. and
they were known 10 each other by certain notes on
the latter as Frccmasnns are known by words
and grips of The hand. OF the ritual very
little Is known. Gustav Schlegel has given us
some curious particulars of the forms and ccrc-
monies. the questions and answers used IN the
1 ad Societies of China. but. as far as we know,
no investigator of the history and objects of secret
orders has revealed the mysteries of the Japanese
Komoso. We have spoken OF the society in the
past tense, but 1t may exist even now and have
future of activity III store The yotaries of the
der took part IN the civil war of 1868. and they
may rcappear If any revolutionary movement shonld