Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-09
The Practical Operation Of the Kara.
WO-Kiri Among Many japanese
Noblemen.
The Nobility Opposed to the Abroga-
ito of Their National Code
Of Honor.
II Has Finally Been Abolished How.
ever Except in Case IF Certain
Persons.

| IL Is generally understood That hara-
kiri, of hara-wo kiri, is the solemn prac-
tice of suicide among japanese noblemen
- practice most deeply rooted in their
ide ! of honor and faithfuIness, says
c. Sada ichi Hartmann in the New York
sun.
The hsra-k ri 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-kiIi became an institution
of honor. Whoever knew his cause to be
lest either executed himself with his
sword, or allowed his companions to do it
for HIM. 1t often happened that when
a feudal lord had performed his self
execution his vassals followed his
example, to show their loyalty beyond the
grave.
My mo her, who was Japanese of rank,
often related to me case of hara klri
which took place not 80 very many years
ago in her own family, The noblem2n
occupying 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 bis memory. The con
| demned man was committed TO the sur
veillance of a nobIeman in whose mansion
| the solemn seIf-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 en- tray
| He donned them quickly and hurried to
| the reception,room OF the place, 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 peice of 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 already dark,
and candela6rum giving a faint light
was placed in each corner. Behind two
white screens pail, a wash basin, u cen
ser, tray, and short sword lay hidden,
According tC prevailing rules, the persons
present stepped into the semidSrk 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 reverence, lift
ing 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 fail down to the
belt ana stuffed them firmly under his
knee to prevent him from falling back,
ward, which is looked on as a disgrace
Then, while with 6rm hand he seized
the sword and with quick movement cut
open his stomach, the second assistant,
who stood on his lett side, with one force
blow severed the head from the trunk.
After rendering his friend this terrible
service he retired behind the screens, drew
some white paper from his belt and
wiped the weapon. The third assistant
then grasped the head 10y the tuft of hair
ulu IltStINt' ~ w NllN 'liNN'IIll SNN'l "
ment witness to how that ju tca Ia | b en-
fully satisfied. This WAS followed by deep
silence. All present retired quietly. Ga
the floor lay the body of the nobleman.
Four servants appeared and carried away
the body and cleaned the room.
The memory of the nobl, nan remained
unstained He had remained loyal to his
rank in death.
The nara.kirl had pro minent part in
the history of federal loyalty and the
heroic death of the forty .seven Ronins.
This bit of history gives true pictue of
an age when Japan, untained by contact
with foreign life, had its own national ex-
istenCe.
At the beginning of the eighteenth cen
fury an imp, rial ambassador was to travel
on Il matter of great importance from the
court of the mikado to the shogunl IN Yed
do As such nm official must be received
with great honor, the grand master OF
ceremonies, Katsukenosuke, was attended
10y two nobemen of very high rank,
Tsano Takumi no kami and kamei Sama.
| But katSukenosuke was "A very ayarlClouS
man, and as the presents which the two
noblemcn gave him on entering their Of
! tee did not seem precious enough to him,
he tormented the nobIemen in every pos,
sibe way and insulted them. Takumi
bore ali his iniults with patience. kamel
plotted revenge. and one evening he an
nounccd to his subordinates that he would
kali the old miser the following morning,
Nothing could change his decision,
though he knew that he would pay for it
with his life, and that his family would be
| deprived of their property. So lis head
vaSsal took refuge in an arti6ee. Going
! to kntsukenosuke the next morning he
| laid all his own savings at his feet as q
present from bismaster, and vixen kamel
called lac was received in such friendly
way he abandoned his schemes.
Then katSukenoSuSe directed all his
prosecutions against Takumi, whom he
offended so deeply that he attacked The
grand master of the ceremonies with his
sword. inhicting slight wound on his
enemy's forehead. Taknmi was lmprison-
ed and sentenced to the hari kiri. His
property was conhscated, and his yaSsals
became Rouins, or strolug knights,
TakumI, head vussal. Kurlro>uke, re
solved, with torlvSlN other faithful yl,
sails to avenSe the death Of heir mas'er;