The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-21
THE DECLINE OF HARA-KIRI.
JAPAN'S CURIOUS METHOD OF SUI
eide HAS GONE OUT OF FASHION.

Der of Xears-FOrmer Popularity
of the Act Which ObIiterated All
Stains OF DishonOr-Hnra-kiri by
Law-PermissiOn 10 Commit HarR-
Kiri by NobIemnn Under Dis
pleasure of the Emperor Was Re-
garded as n Favor-The Customary
Ceremonies.
From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The attempted suicide by hara -kiri just
! reported from Yokohama, Of the young
japanese diplomat, Yakima. is the first
occurrence Of the kind in official circles in
number Of years. This curious method
Of eelt-destruction. formerly so popular
and even made necessary in some cases
by law, has gone ous OF fashion entirely
with the growth of an Occidental type of
civilization in that part of the world. More
than twenty years have elapsed since
very tragic happening of the sort, which
drew an emphatic protest from our de-
partment OF state, secretary OF the
American legation ar Yokohama being
mixed up in IL. In fact, he lost his life IN
consequence Of the affair and a number
Of japanese were killed also.
The trouble arose ont of an injury to the
sensitive feelings of a native gentleman
who was at that time governor of the
Province of KanagaWa. He had some Of
fetal correspondence with the American
secretary aforesaid, whose name was
Heusken. According 20 his notion, the
secretary treated him in a contemptuous
manner. So he appealed to the minister
at the head of the japanese foreign Of
flee, demanding that Hcusken be expelled
from the country. The minister refused
and then the governor laid the matter be
fore his family and friends. They decided
that the only thing for him to do under
the circumst ances was 90 XIII himseiI, ana
so he cut himself open with his sword in
their presence, in accordance with the
rules of the japanese code of honor. IL
then became the duty of his friends 10 as
sassinate both Heuskeu and the minlstei
The former they waylald and Sew Inc
minister knowing what he hadeo expect
took an armed guard about with him, and
in fight which ensued the governor
party was defeated. many of the assaiiants
being killed. This settled the matter
finally, public opinion being satsned ana
the dispute being considered disposed or
Yakima the young diplomat, seems 70
have performed the hara-kiri In the or
thodoX fashion, except that ne did not
use the proper kind of weapon. The long
sword which he attempted TO employ was
so clumsy an instrument that he failed to
infiict a mortal wound, though ne sllt
himself across the belly with 1t and tried
to cut his throat also. A special pattern
of sword has always been deemed requl-
site for this deadly operation short and
somewhat daggerlike. 1t was the custom
in the old days for gentleman TO carry
at all times two swords. one was big and
long. to be utilized against his enemies;
the other was of small size, to be turned
against his own person In case an eIher-
gency demanded IT, nobleman never
hesitated a moment to destroy himseh IN
this manner if circumstances were such
as to require it under the rules of the ac-
cepted etiquette. Boys of gentle birth
were taught the exact spot in which TO IN
sert the weapon In order to Kill instantly,
and warriors were even trained to be aDle
to cut off their own heads if they should
be Vanduished in battle.
Nothing can. better Illustrate the readl-
ness of the japanese to adopt European
ideas than their abandonment of this Gus
tom which was grounded so deeply IN the
traditions of the people that for a gentle
man to fail to kill himself under clrcum-
stances of disgrace was regarded as the
utmost conceivable dishonor. If he was IN
debt and could not pay, there was nothing
else for him to 60. If he found himself in
iured by anybody, and circumstances made
revenge impossible, hara-kiri was the
only resort, The practice seems to nave
had it's beginning in very early umes,
| when, after battle, the Yanqmshed
wounded fell upon their swords. Ere
| cnentIv retainerF whose masters were
| slain. would destroy themselves. A ia
| nous soldier, wounded to the death, would
nay and score his own face beyond recog'
| milton. so that his foes might not glory
| over him,
To commit hara-kiri was to wipe out all
stains on the personal character, no mat
Ter what the self-slayer might have been
! guilty Of BY this means suspected
| robber or detected assassin could easily
| satisfy mis- own sense of honor ana save
| his relatives and friends from any penal
| ties which otherwise might have deVolVed
| upon them. In 1860 Mr.. Alcock, IN de-
| spatoh TO Lord John Russell, describing
! the murder of the Prince Regent of Japan
| said: 1.-TWO of the assaiants VINO hed,
| finding their purSuers gaining on then
! stoppel and being bare to the abdomen
| performed the hara-lliri, it being point
! Of honor never to interrupt or interfere
| even for the ends of justice, with man
! so honorably engaged. BY his own sell
| sacrifice he has satisfied the law and
saved his family from ruin and disgrace.
| The performance of the hara-kiri was
| almost a festive affair. Friends and rela-
| tiVes We're invited to partake OF COLA
| ton. The best rice and rice brandy was
| set FORTH and the guests appeared in we'd
| ding garments. They were expected TO
| appIaud the devotion and courage OF the
| victim and TO manifest any grlet or other
| painful emotion would have been constd-
! cred in very bad taste. Toward evening
| the doomed man calmly opened his dress,
exposed the abdomen, and disemboweled
| himself by a single cut from right to LETT
! Sometimes two cuts were made in the
shane of a cross. If the self-destroyer,
after Sitting the abdomen retained
strength and presence of mind to thrust
the dagger into his throat, and then to
replace it in its scabbard, it was regarded
as an act of the utmost possible knightly
! bravery. and was lauded for generations.
The practice of the hara-kiri as
a judicial sentence and punishment
was adopted in later times If the
emperor was displeased with an
| official. he usually notified him
that he was permitted to commit hara-klrl.
This was considered a favor, in case the
government was obliged to condemn a
| nobleman to death for malversation in
office or for some other offense. The hara-
| kiri cleansed the victim from every stain,
! and insured honorable interment and re-
spected memory. The punishment was in
ficted at night in a temple, or in an apart
ment specially prepared. II the condemned
| ,e "a chamber WQS