The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-04
Venerate Here Kiri Custom
japanese Regard Death BY as Special Proof of Honor
and Courage
and Courage

i ACTS Of daily occurrence show how
little regard for life is shown by
the japanese. on whom public at
tention is concentrated at the present
moment They are terrible enemies:they
die without a regret. as they sIay
without remorse. They care nothing
ABOUT the loss of their own lives or
the ives of their fellows. They seem
10 regard death as a more or less com
n@hplace incident, to which a sensa
uonal end only can impart merit At
al times ready 10 cut open their stom-
acn with dramatic ostentati0n. the
go OF being regarded as savages by
<orelgn nations, whose methods Of
hghtinS they copy with prodigious "a :
panty appears 10 be the only reason
why they do not treat their enemies
with the same fer0City.
IL is a regular custom with most Of
the soldiers and sailors OF Japan TO
practice "bari-kiri" When a Japanese
transport vessel was sunk by the Rus
SLAMS short time ago the officers
ana men preferred cutting omen their
stOmachs to surrendering. and sf,niisr
acts are Of frequent occurrence. The
latest report case occurred among the
ieft wing Of the army i'm Manchuria
az quarantine station. where a
number Of men and five officers. who
were surrounded in a Chinese house
committed suicide-with only four ex-
ceptions-rather than be taken pris-
oners. IL Is noteworthy that all the
oifcers persisted voluntarily NJ On
Sehl. who has lived in japan for many
years, has met with a large number
OF isolated cases Of voluntary death.
alke IN the army and among the civil
population. In the war now going on
there will assuredly be a rage for
hara-kiri' many Of the soldiers will
prefer 10 cut themselves open rather
than impair their self-respect.
10 md the origin of "hara-kiri' it
VIII be necessary to 20 back to a very
remote period of history as far even
as the legendary period. The history
OF ancient Japan swarms with exam
pies or famous men, heroes of various
times, who believed that they added 10
their glory by TesOrting TO "hara-kiri''
on any pretext that they considered
noble The aTistocratic class claimed
this manner Of death as a special privi-
lese' Whlcn was only granted TO the
servants OF great lord as a recon-
Pense for faithful services, on the
death OF his master.
AS in France there are dancing mas
ters and fencing masters, so In Japan
there were formerly teachers OF the
ART OF practicing "hara-kiri" So held
IN honor was It by the nobility that
they came at last TO seek a pretext
LOT IL. The following anecdOte. which
ilds Deen many times related, dates
pack for great many years.
Two noblemen Of the imperial bouse-
mold met on staircase in the palace
one bringing down an empty dish from
the 'emperor's table, the other carry
ing fun dish for the same table II
happened that their sabers touched
Inc man who was going down consid-
ered himself insulted he drew his sa-
Der snd cut open his stomach. The
Other -hurriedly mounted TO the head
or the stairs, laid the dish upon the !
table Of his sovereign. returned as (
quickly and found his enemy stiU |
awe. He excused himself for hav-
ing allowed himself to be anticipated 4
on me ground of his duties. and then I
opened his stomach in his turn.
opening MS own stomach. then. was
certain means whereby a noble. /
WINE safeguarding his honor. could |
prove his blue blood ana his excellent /
SuCd tio1- II may be added that this
nOde OF suicide demanded special de-
.alls IN its execution. A great lord
Was expected 10 put an end to him
sell IN different manner from the
common herd, who did NOT eTlfsTx-r ,fF,o |
privilege. The first named alone en-
oyed the right. and maintained the
'olSat'on OF surrounding the cerc-
nony Of 'harakiri'' with appropriate
scenery. and according 10 the rules
II etiquette created by centuries Of
radltlonS. These included the nature |
u me preparations, the choice of y
ocaAty, the gestures of the self-sacri-
Ice, the length OF the tragedy. everv
hlng was minutely described. eycn In
ne minner in which the princins1 ar-
or must make his entry into the
Ipartment hung with white-the am
'lem OF mourning i'm Japan-and re-
pond 10 the salutes Of his friends and
guests e'''N
rms programme Of necessity occu-
'ied long time, NJ. Oh Sehl remarks
IS may be imagined from tho infer
unable Saiutations practiced by the
japanese IN the present day. Then
'ith smile on his lipe. ne stooped
OWn ana exposed his stomach. but did
lot even then strike the blow. He
'ad 10 lead the way UP 10 II bv pro-
louncins few well chosen words as
uiie as elegant, marking at once the
ourage and distinction of the sneak
r He completed his harangue bv av-
PRESSING sentiments of the most lofty
haracter, addressed to his nearest
rlend. who stood beside him. sabar I
happened by hand 10 exquisite keen ;
eSS. IN his hand. To the latter v-ae
ssiSned the distinguished honor of {
ompietng the procedure by cutting