The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1891-11-12
The CODE Or HARA-KIRT
A WAY OF SATISFYING HONOR
AMONG JAPANESE NOBILITY

Sample Case-Ths New Code a.. LAWS
II Is generally understood that hara-
kin, or harawo-kiri. is the solemn prac.
;ice oil suicide Among japanese noble
men-a practice most deeply rooted in
their Ideas -; 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 emf
their own threats. Later the hara-k
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 It
often happened that when feuda lord
had performed his self execution his vas
sails followed his example to show their
loyalty beyond the grave.
IT'S MEMORY UNSTAlNEp
Ny mother. who was A ,Jananese of
rank, often related to me a case Of hara-
kirl which took place not SO many years
ago III her own family The nobeman
occupymga government Office, had killed
his bltterest enemy and was sentenced to
the hara-klr If he had not belonged to
the caste OF warriors they would either
nave beheaded him or sentenced him to
be nailed to the cross, which would have
brought dishonor on his family. besides
resulting III pecuniary disadvantages
Ihe 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 ap-
pointed. and the witnesses elected by
the government arrived The condemned
man lad begged three of his friends to
render him the last service and they con-
vented
Subordinates called on the prisoner to
tell him OF the arrival of the witnesses.
They brought him robes of hemp on
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 solemn procession
to the room where the self execution was
to take place. A large cotton cloth was
splAad on the mats. Over this scarlet
Quilt was laid to prevent the blood from
oozing through the mats. 1t was al
ready dark and a candelabrum, giving a
Cos, E,rr,+ al 81
Behind Two white screens pail, wash
basin, 4 censor, a 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
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 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 Ew
OF course all japanese do not share
the opinion of those deputies. In the
last change of government when the
shotgun, completely defeated, had no
other alternative than to flee 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 shotgun 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 shotgun is still living and en-
joys a fat income.
SO much about the essential charac-
teristics of the hari-kiri The changes
which this old national custom has I'M