The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-11-07
HARAKlRl.
How the Japanese Operation Is Ferforme.
In the Empire Of the Mllsado.

Harakiri, a peculiar mode of suicide
lin the eyes of the nobility Of JapaI
the most dignfied and honorable wa,
of all violent deaths. the only means o
restoring honor, revenge being impos
sible-has seldom been witnessed b,
European or American eyes. As tn,
word ''harakiri" has crept into Amer
lean politics, writes Albert de Leur, ai
explanation of its meaning in Japar
may be interesting and the reader cal
then Judge if the adoption of the wore
is allowable.
Dueling is now and ever has beer
condemned by intelligent japanese, a,
the uncertainty of its results was con
sidercd too hazardous to the settlement
OF its cause. For ages it has been tn,
custom in Japan when a samural con
sidered himself insulted by one equa
in rank that the injured party should
proceed to his home, call together his
family and friends, iSform them of the
insult suffered at the hands of hi.
enemy, and set apart day upon which
he would revenge himself and restore
the family honor, injured by the word.
or acts of his opponent, by committing
"harakiri."
In the first place rope over two
inches thick, made out of the tendril:
of the lotus flower, was constructed by
the unmarried female members of the
family, and closely drawn around the
house, it being the popular belief thai
Objectionable spirits would thereby be
prevented from entering during the
ceremony and carrying away the soul
of the suicide. The chamber in which
the ceremony was to take place was
hung with yellow silk or Grape, the
sunlight carefully excluded, the only
illumination allowed being that furn.
ished blythe everlasting light burning
in front of the family god. whose
pedestal was placed about two feet
from the northern wall of the chamber
A foot-high platform, about feet long
by feet broad, was placed in the cen.
ter of the room, covered with white
Grape, and the kahanna Ordinary
sword) OF the master of the household
laid unscabbared upon the platform,
its point wrapped in yellow lilil. On
each corner of this platform was placed
a small saucer filled with scented oil
in which wick was burning.
The family and friends of the noble
about to commit suicide entered the
room led by a priest, the latter bearing in
his hands a full bloominglotus flower
which he deposited across the sword
lying upon the platform, and the spec.
tators took seats around the room.
The nobleman then entered, dressed in
pure white garments with yellow.
colored scarf encircling his body and
carrying in his hand little saucer
from the everlasting light in front OF
the family god.
Behind him came his eldest son, il
over years of age-if not his nearest
Notwithstanding upon platter made
of sandal wood the wakizaski, a dagger.
like weapon nine and one-half inches
long and cut on the left side. The
blade of the lancet-looking weapon was
wrapped in yellow Grape, u lotus flower
being placed upon its hilt. 1t general
ly was an heirloom of the family and
considered the most valuable article in
itsspossession. 1t is the instrument
with which harakiri was always COM
mitted. The person to commit this act
would then kneel upon the platform
with his face toward the north and the
wakizaski placed before him. The
priest would take the lotus flower from
the japanese sword and cut the leaves
in pieces, strewing the same over the
man. After blessing him in
this manner the lights in the corner
were blown out by the priest
and the light carried by the suicide ex-
by his son or nearest rela-
tive and the time for the final act had
come.
After recounti1g in solemn voice
the insult suffered by him from his
enemy he invoked the spirit'of his an
cestors to see in what manner he ND.
held the family honor intrusted to him
at his birth, and rising upon his left
knee he would take hold of the wakiz-
aski with his left hand. lift up his white
robe with his right hand, wrapping the
end of the yellow sash around his left
wrist, and deliberately and very slowly
insert the dagger-like knife into his
body above the right hip bone and
draw it across until within four or five
inches of his left hip bone. At the
he inserted the knife his mex
of kin would take the katana (ordinary
sword) and with swift Bow sever the
head of the suicide from the trunk. In
every case of this description, when
harakiri was committed in defense OF
insulted honor, the insulting party was
informed by the family of the suicide
of the act performed by sending to him
n sort of affidavit of the next of kin Ot
the deceased written upon yellow pa.
per in the leaves of the lotus flower, and
If that gentleman would not be consid.
cred craven, unfit for association
with honorable men, he, too, would
then commit harakiri in somewhat
similar manner. The trouble would
thus be settled and no further enmity
would exist between the families of the
parties interested. A Noncompliance,
however, with this time-honored Gus.
tom of Japan on the part of the person
who gave the insult has never beer
q.