Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-22
iHE CODE OF HARA-KIRI
WAY OF SATISFYING HONOR
AMONG JAPANESE NOBILITY.

BHen Who Deliberately Commit Suicide
or Get Their Friends to XIII Them-A
Sample Case-The New Code of Laws
Against IL. but 1t Ia Still Practiced.
1t is generally understood that hara-
kiri, or hara-wo-kiri, 10 the solemn prac-
tice of suicide among japanese noble
men-a practice most deeply rooted in
their ideas of honor and faithfulness.
The hara-kiri was first practiced on
the battlefield. If the defeated did not
wish to fall alive into the hands of the
enemy they thrust their swords into
their mouths or their breasts or cut
their own throats. Later the hara-kiri
became an institution Of honor. Who
ever knew his cause to be lost either ex-
ecuted himself with his sword or allowed
his companions to do it for him. 1t
often happened that when feudal lord
had performed his self execution his vas
sails followed his example to show their
loyalty beyond the grave.
HIS MEMORY UNsTANED.
My mother, who was a japanese Of
rank, often related to me case OF hara-
kiri which took place not so many years
ago in her own family. The nobieman,
occupying a government Office, had killed
his bitterest enemy and was sentenced to
the hara-kiri If he had not belonged to
the caste of warriors they would either
have beheaded him or sentenced him to
be nailed to the cross, which would have
brought dishonor on his family, besides
resulting in pecuniary disadvantages
The hara-kiri, however, attached no dis
honor to him or his memory. The con-
demned man was committed to the sur
veillance OF nobleman in whose man.
sion the solemn self execution was to-
take place. Day and hour were APP
pointed, and the witnesses elected by
the government arrived. The condemned
man had begged three of his friends to
render him the last service and they con-
sented
Subordinates called on the prisoner to
tell him of the arrival of the witnesses.
They brought him robes of hemp on a
tray. He donned them quickly and hur-
ried to the reception room of the palace,
where the sentence of death was read to
him. The prisoner listened to it without
moving a feature. Then he retired once
more to his chamber to change his dress
for the last time Attired in white
robes, he was led by a solemn procession
to the room where the self execution was
to take place. A large cotton cloth was
spread on the mats Over this a scarlet
quilt was laid to prevent the blood from
oozing through the mats. 1t was al
ready dark and candelabrum, giving
faint light, was placed in each corner.
Behind two white screens pail, wash
basin, censor, tray and short sword
lay hidden. According to prevailing
rules, the persons present stepped into
the semidark room and took their places.
Then the duties of the three assistants
of the prisoner began. The first brought
him the sword on a short legged table,
the hilt being wrapped in paper. The
prisoner received the weapon with rever-
ence, lifting it with both hands to his
| forehead to express his esteem. Then he
laid it back on the table and bowed to
all present. He let his upper garments
fall down to the belt, and stuffed them
firmly under his knees to prevent him
from falling backward, which is looked
on as a disgrace. Then, while with a
firm hand he seized the sword, and with
a quick movement cut up his stomach,
the second assistant, who stood on his
left side, with one fierce blow severed
the head from the trunk. After render
ing his friend this terrible service he re-
tired behind the screens, drew some
white paper from his belt and wiped
the weapon. The third assistant then
grasped the head by the tuft of hair and
presented it to the principal government
witness to show that justice had been
fully satisfied. This was followed by
deep silence. All present retired quietly.
On the floor lay the body of the noble
man. Four servants appeared and car
ried away the body and cleaned the
room.
The memory of the nobleman remained
unstained. He had remained loyal to his
rank in death.
NOT FOR THE Shotgun.
In 1869 a private secretary to the privy
council proposed the abolition of the
hara-kiri. Two-thirds Of the deputies
were against the proposition, and in the
speeches held on that occasion they
praised the institution as indispensable
to preserve the honor of the aristocracy.
and as spur to morality and religion.
The man who advanced the proposition
was, as was expected. murdered not long
afterward.
OF course all Japanese do not share
the opinion of those deputies. In the
last change of government when the
shogun, completely defeated, had no
other alternative than to fee to Yeddo,
one of his councillors advised him to
have recourse to the hari-kiri as the
last means of saving his honor and that
of his family. The shogun ridiculed
the advice and left the room in rage.
The faithful councillor retired to an
other part of the palace and disem-
bowled himself in proof Of his earnest
ness. The shogun is still living and en-
Joys fat income.
So much about the essential charac-
teristics of the hari-kiri. The changes
which this old national custom has un-
dergone cause the particulars concern
ing it to be somewhat contradictory. By
the introduction of new code of laws,
the hari- kiri has been abolished and only
noblemen, who still believe in the tra-
ditional code of honor Of their ancestors.
may select it as a mode of death.-C.
Sadakichi Hartmann in New York Sun.