The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-13
HARA-KIRI IN JAPAN.
The Sole Occasion Upon Which For
eigners Have Seen the Horrible
Act Done.

CAShVNS hdNc seen tnt uOfFADAt
Act Done.
From the Springfield Republican
The japanese samurai, from earliest
childhood, was trained in the most elabo-
rate code of honor of mind ever devised,
and which to him represented the law
Common people might be punished for
attractions against property or person;
for the samurai there was but one ter
mination for a stain upon his escutch-
con or that of his clan; self-immolation
by hara-kiri. as the act was termed; sep
puku, as the ceremony of disemboweling
was styled. I'VE cannot survive our de-
feat" said the confidential adviser to
Keiki Tokugawa, the last shotgun when
they had retired to the castle of Osaka,
after the disastrous battle of Fushimi,
and he advises seppuku. But Keiki did
not see it. and survives to-day in his cas-
tie at Shizuoka, although the man who
proposed the suicide, true to his princi-
pies, carried out his intention. A samurai,
to-day, cannot be put to death as a COM
mon criminal. If he should fail to dis
patch himself, he must be reduced to
the class Of heimin, common people, after
which the law may take it's course.
When the first deliberative assembly OF
united Japan met in 1859 one of its mem
bers, Ono Seigoro, proposed to abolish the
custom. Out of total of 200 there were
200 votes recorded against this innovation,
and the debate demonstrated the popular
ity of this institution. 1t was designated
as the very shrine Of the japanese ma
tional spirit, and the embodiment in prac-
tice of devotion to principle''-"a great or
ont
constitution'-"a valuable instrument
tending to the honor of the mobiles. and
based on compassionate feeling toward
the official CASTE pillar Of religion and
a spur to virtue, etc. 1t was remarkable.
to say the least, that Ono Seigoro the
proposer, was shortly afterward found
murdered, and that no clew to. the as
sassin was found. Saigo Takamori, who
led the dangerous Satsuma rebellion in
1873, with many of his principal followers,
chose this method of vindicating a lost
cause. And it was rumored openly, al
though the government suppressed the
publication, that a number of army and
navy officers committed hara-kiri only a
year ago, when the retrocesslon of the
Laoi-Tung peninsula had been confirmed.
Although no longer a recognized insti-
tuition, there is little doubt it is occ, sion
ally resorted to, even while being dis
countenanced by the enlightened men,
bers of the government. But it is safe
TO predict that this method of suicide will
continue to exist as long as the Yamato
Damashii literally spirit of Old Japan is
guarded by the samurai, although it will
be concealed from foreign observers who
have but little sympathy with this mode
of evincing contrition or of making repa-
ration.
The act of hara-kiri was witnessed only
once, so far as records go. by foreigners.
1t was in February 1865 The port of Hio-
go CKobe) had been opened to foreigners,
when a party of Hizen troops passed
through on their way to Kioto. One of
the captains, Taxi Zenzaburo, gave orders
to fre on the foreigners, and although
very little damage was done the act was
so wanton and unprovoked that prompt
and proportionate punishment of the Of
fender was demanded, so that these pro-
miscuous attacks upon peaceable foreign
ers might cease. The government assent
ed and Taxi was ordered TO commit sep
puku by the emperor's command, and
that there might be no mistake, repre-
sentatives of the foreign powers were in
vited to be present at the sickening drama.
The time was set at 1890 p. M, the place,
the "hondo'' or main hall of the Seifukuji
temple of Hiogo. Ito Shunske, now his
excellency Marquis ito Hirobumi, pre-
mer of the cabinet, but then provisional
governor of Hiogo, had been ordered to
witness the punishment on the part of
the government. Altogether there were
seven kenshi, or witnesses, probably to
correspond in number with the foreigners
detailed to witness the act.
The general opinion prevails that the
man about to commit hara-kiri dies by
his own hand. This is not so. He is &C
companied by a kaishaku, a second, fire.
quently selected, by himself for his skill
with the sword.
Taxi entered, calmly and steadily but
without any bravado, dressed in his robes
of ceremony, and after bowling respect
fully to the kenshi and foreign witnesses,
proceeded to the mats covered with a rug
of scarlet felt, upon which he squatted
in a respectful attitude, the. knees and
toes touching the ground, but the body
resting upon the knees, and slightly bend
ing forward. He now declared that he
alone was responsible for the firing. speak
ing in a steady tone. An assistant now
brought a tray upon which rested wax
izahi or poinard 91z inches long. pointed
and sharp as a razor. The condemned
man took the weapon, after causing his
clothes TO drop to his waist. and, says an
eye witness, "stabbing deeply below the
waist on the left hand side, drew the dirk
slowy across to the right side. and, turn
ing IL in the wound, gave a slight cut up
ward" He now drew the dirk out and
bent his head forward. whereupon the
kaishaku. or second, who had been crouch
ing on his left hand. brandished his
sword, and at one blow severed the head
from the body. II was then certified by
the kenshi or witness, and the horrible
drama closed.
This peculiar mode of atonement be-
came part of the Japanese judicial sys-
TEN under the Ashikaga rule. the third
dynasty of shoguns 0336-l56s A. d.. 1t
was a privilege reserved strictly for the
daimie and their armed retainers, the sa-
mural. and generally took place at night
the place of execution being either the
yashid (baronial residence) or the adjoin-
ing garden, according to the rank Of the
sufferer When lyeyasu founded the last
dynasty OF shoguns. the house of TolSu-
gawa. ponderous code Of ceremonial was
instituted, and as the young samurai