The state herald., 1890-08-08
nAeYAxlRI.
us'v The Jsps.sss opsratiea Il Psrssrnsb
n the Empire Of the lGlkado.

nv me Jnpaueee Operation 10 fertnrOee
n the Empire Of the 1ikado.
Harakiri. q peculiar mode Of suicide
lin the eyes Of tho nobility Of Japan
the most digniiled and honorable way
Of all violent deaths, tho only means Of
restoring honor. revenge being impos.
sibls-has seldom been witnessed by
European or American eyes. As the
word "harakiri" has crept into Amer.
lean politics, writes Albert do Lcur, mn
explanation Of its meaning In Japan
may be interesting and the reader can
then judge II tho adoption Of tho word
10 allowable.
Dueling Ia now and ever has been
condemned by intelligent Japanese as
the uncertainty Of Its results was con.
sidered too hazardous to tho settlement
Of Its cause. For ages 1t has been the
custom in Japan when . samural con.
sidercd himself insulted by ono equal
In rank that the injured party should
proceed to his home. call together his
family and friends. inform them OF the
insult suffered at the hands Of his
enemy, and set apart day upon which
he would revenge himself and restore
the family honor. injured by tho word.
or acts Of his opponent, by committing
"harakiri."
In the first place . ropo over two
inches thick. made out OF tho tendrils
of the lotus flower. was constructed by
tho unmarried female members Of the
family, and closely drawn around the
house, 1t being the nopular belief that
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. tho
sunlight carefully excluded, tho only
illumination allowed being that furn.
ished by the 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 3 feet long
BY 2 feet broad, was placed in tho cen.
ter OF the room. covered with white
Grape, and the kal,nnna Ordinary
sword) of the master OF the household
laid unscabbarcd upon the platform,
Its point wrapped in yellow Hill. 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 tho
room, led by priest, the latter bearing in
his hands u full bloominglotus flower
which he deposited across the sword
lying upon the platform. and the spec
tators took seats around tho room.
The nobleman then entered, dressed in
pure white garments with yellow
colorcd scarf cncircling his body and
carrying in his hand u little saucer
from the everlasting light in front OF
the family god.
Behind him came his eldest son, II
over years OF age--if not his nearest
rclative-carrying upon a platter made
Of sandal wood the wakizaski. dagger
like weapon nine and onc-half inches
long and cut ON the left side. Thu
blade of the lancet-looking weapon was
wrapped in yellow Grape. lotus flower
being placed upon its hit. 1t general.
ly was an heirloom of the family aud
considered the most valuable article in
its possession. 1t is the instrument
with which harakiri was always com.
mittcd. The person TO commit this act
would then kncel upon the platform
with his face toward the north aud tina
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
knccling man. After blessing him in
this manner the lights IN the corner
saucers were blown out by the prizes,
and the light carried by the suicide cx.
iing,ii.hcd by his son or nearest rcla.
tivc and the time for the final act had
cone.
After recouuting In a solemn vote,
the insult suffered by him from bis
enemy he invoked the spirit OF his an.
cestors TO see In what manner he up.
held the family honor intrusied to him
at his birth. aud rising upon his left
knee he would take hold OF the wakiz.
ask with his left hand. lit up his white
robe will, his right hand. wrapping the
end Of the yellow sash around his left
wrist. and deliberately and very slowly
Insert the daggcr-li @ knife into his
body above tho right hip bone and
draw Il across until within four or five
inches Of his left hip bone. At the
moment he inserted the knife his next
Of kin would tako the katana (or,iinary
sword) and with swift blow sever the
head Of the suicide from the trunk. In
every case Of this description. when
harakiri was committed Ia defense Of
insulted honor. the insulting party was
Informed by the family Of the suicide
VI the act performed by sending TO him
4 sort Of affidavit Of the next Of kin Of
The deceased written upon yellow pa.
per In the leaves Of tho lotus flower, aud
II that gentleman would not be consid'
cred craven. unfit for association
with honorable men. he. too. would
then commit harakiri In n somewhat
similar manner. The trouble would
thus be settled and no further emit,
would exist between the families Of tho
parties interested. A noncompliance
however. with this iimc-honorcd Gus
tom Of Japan on the part Of the person
1 A.. a.