The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-06
HONOR AMONG JAPANESE

HONOR AMONG JAPANESE.
Tho Code OF Hars-K iri and tho Continued
Loyalty to It OF tho Nobility.
It is generally understood that hara-klri or
hara-wo-kirl is the solemn practice OF suicide
among japanese noblemsn. practice most
deeply rooted In their ideas OF honor and
faithfulness.
The hara.klri was nrst practised on tho bat
tlefleld. II tho defeated did not wish TO fall
alive into tho hands Of the enemy. they thrust
their swords into their mouths or their
breasts or cut their own throRts. Later tho
hara-kiri became an institution OF honor.
Whoever knew his cause to he lost either OK
scuted himself with his sword. or allowed his
oomranlons to do 1t for him. 1t often hapre ned
that when feudal lord had performed his
solf-executlon his vassals followed his ex-
ample. to show their loyalty beyond the grave.
My mother. who was q Japanese OF rank.
often related to me a case OF hara.kiri which
took place not 50 worry many years ago in her
own family. Tho nobleman. occupying q Gov
srnment Office, had killed his blttersst enemy
and was sentenced to the hara-kiri. II he had
not belonged to tho caste OF warriors they
would either have behonded him or sentenced
him to be nailed to the cross. which would
have brought dishonor on his family. be-
slucS kcoulGilk ia poCuuIuEy
Tho hara.kiri. however. attached no uishonor
to him or his memory. Tho condemned man
was committed to the surveillance Of a noble
man In whose mansion tho solemn self-execu.
ton was to take place. Day and hour were
appointed. md the witnesses elected by the
Government arrived. The condemned man
had begged three Of his friends to render him
the Inst service ana thsy consented.
subordinates called on tho prisoner to tell
him OF the arrival OF tho witne .ses. They
brought him robes Of hemp on a tray. lIe
donn-d them quickly and hurried to the rscsp-
ton room OF tho palace. where the sentence
OF death was road to him. Tho prisoner lis
tened to 1t without moving a feature. Then he
retired once more to his chamber to change
his dress for the last time. Attrei In white
robes. lie was led by solemn procession to
the room whore tho sef.executon was to take
pace. large cotton cloth was snIead on the
MATS. Oyer this q scarlet 4nilt was laid 70
prevent tho blood IRON oozing THROUGH tho
mats. 1t was already dark and u candelab rum
giving a iaint light was placed in each corner.
q censor. a tray. and q short sword lay hid lon.
According to prevailing rules. the persons
Then ,hs auties 9t the three assistants OF tho
%earon vi reyerepcs. lifting it with y both
Then he laid it back on Tho table and bowed 70
oil present. He let hisupper garments fall
dsr 10 ona n sna
backward, which is looked on as a disgrace.
Then; while with q firm hand he seized the
sword and with quick movement cut M his
stomach. the second assistant. who stood on
bis left slde. with one fierce blow severed
derine his friend this terrlbie service.
he retire. behind the screens. drew some
I weanOn. The tn rl us6StAut sh prRaneI tina
head W the TUT OF hair and presented t to
the pinc!pal G"verImIe g witness TO- show
quietly. On the floor lay the bo,y Of the 40;
away the body and cleaned tn. room.
The memory OF tho nobleman remained un-
ia assti. He mad remained loyal to his rank
Tue hare. kiri Ind : prominent part In the
,bs Of gaK and the hr b1 d dGsh
uniaintel by contact with foreign life. had its
AT the beginnn. OF the eighteenth entury
an imperial ambassador was u travel for a
10 sborun ,I 's
Official must be received with great honor, the
grand master Of cernmonies. hatsukenoinke.
rauk. 1.sano.. Takumi no Kant and kamsi
Sauna. Bat Ka.sukonosuko was q very avari-
| nobiemen gaze him on catering their Office
did not soc n precious enough to him. he tor;
lnSn'eu inc nope len III every way anQ
| insultel them. Takumi bore all his insult.
with patience. knmei plotted revenge. and
one evening he nnnonne.d I, his sunordlnates
ing morning. Nothn. could changes his de-
cison, though he knew that h. would ny, Tor
| It with his lie and that his family wouli be
deprived OF their property. So his head vnssal
took refuge In an AT lice. Going to Kat
sukenosnke on the next morning he laid ali his
| own savings at his leet as preSent from his
master. and whom .kamci called he was re-
ceivol in such ~ friendly way that he uban-
Thrn KotSmScno snke directed all his perse-
eution against Iukumt. whom no offended 50
| Of ceremonies With, his sword. inlet.
/ ing q sli ght wound In his enemy's forehead.
Ti Ws th
his ,assas became Eonins. or stroinR
KIN ghts; Tacumis head ya,sal, Kuranosuke.
to avenEe the death Of their mastsr, bnt the
grand master O. ceremonies was on hisGnard.
pnrso. and kurane,uke Logan Leading n dis.
| sinatcd lia until the susp'c ons of tho gtHn
master were a!ayed, AID he no longer feared
kuranosuae meantime n,aprcl his plans
and waited. twas nter might, with II vlo-
sanJo aas"hi; and in two ban is proteedei 10
they troks In tho Gate.. AMI after bloc iy
G"mhnt WIN tlIe gate kesP,,s' 'hoy penetrated ,,
tn .y Ioote in vain Tor r tner virtm Ev. t'o
! ally they discovered. behina n picture. u big
! hole II tho WAL which lel into n dark corridor.
/ Th"rs thy c,nght 10 sukenosuke. He was
! ohslinat,ly slcn, about his Identity. but Kur-
ano n.s hal recognized him at once by the
/ scar on his iorrhnh,l
| Tho .,rnn! master OF ceremonies was several
| tim ss rs tuested to perform the harR-Kirt AMI
10 di. TIE honorable mi voluntary death OF a
nObeman. hut ne remained sitting and trem
bling. AT last knranosuke threw hun down
and behHaded him with tho sams sword with
! which his feGdh lord had lonni d-n'h.
pssa S @sr S in;yoi r,ys"ss lh n4 . Hfi Ros
sukrnpsuke lcai, after washinE 4 in \ brook
tho t.!uple to pray for tho dad Thon their
leader Kuran"suKe, gave tla priests all the
burial for Lin, and his friends The consrra
! tors were condemned to the hara-kiri, but. In
re ognitlon of their faithulnsss. they wore
treated with the greatest honor. az II they be
lonEAd TO the highest nobility in the land
They were divided l.. four bands and placed
palace tho haTa-kiri took place. Their boiie.
| were buried beside thsir master and. their
| fame spreading all oyer tho country thou
sands came TO- fray at heir graves
| The templs Sekugi il near Nedio and In the
cenlrn OF group of trees many hundred years
old and IT, prIncpal court rontp ns the thapr
| NJ Iiyiue M,rcv IIaia srntuaa a., IN.