The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-03-23
HbRA-k|R|, JAPANESE RITZ
Suicides Sword Becomes Val.
liable Heirloom.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

to Witness How He Uphods the
Family Dinnity--Means Taken to
Avenge lnsult-Suicde's Head 10
Severed From the Cody.
To the Japanese suicide is the most
uihed and honorable of all violent
tbs. Where revenge is impossible
) the only means of restoring hon
Elaborate preparations are made
committing hara.kiri The cham.
IN which the ceremony is to take
ice is hung with yellow silk or
=, epe, the sunlight carefully excluded.
tae only illumination allowed being
that furnished by ;he everlasting
light burning in front Of the family
god whose pedestal is placed at dis.
tance of about two feet from the
northern wall of the chamber.
A foot high platform about throA
feet long by two feet broad Is placed
in preparation in the center of tho
room, covered in white crepe, and the
kahanna (ordinary sword Of the
master of the household is laid un.
sheathed upon the platform, its point
wrapped in a yellow lily. On each
corner of this platform is placed
small saucer filed with scented oil
in which wick is burning The fam
lily and friends of the noble who is TO
commit suicide enter. led by the
priest the latter bearing in his hands
a full blooming lotus flower. which he
deposits across the sword lying upon
the platform, and the spectators take
seats round the room.
Finally the nobleman enters. dress
ed in pure white garments. with yell
low covered scarf encircling his body,
and carrying in his hand a little
saucer in which burns a wick lig' ted
previously from the everlasting light
which is kept burning in front of the
family god. Behind him comes his
eldest son, ii over five years of age;
If not his nearest relative, carrying
upon platter made of sandal wood
the wakizaski, a dagger like weapon,
nine and a half inches long and
obliquely cut on the left side. The
blade of this lancet looking weapon is
wrapped in yellow crepe, lotus flow.
er being placed upon its hilt.
The sword generally IS n heirloom
Of the family and is considered the
most valuable article in its posseshion.
1t is the instrument with which hara-
kiri is always committed. The per.
N to commit the act kneels upon
platform with his face toward the
h and the waldzaski placed before
e. The priest takes the lotus now-
from the Japanese sword and cuts
. leaves in pieces, strewing the
me over the kneeling man. After
blessing him in this manner the
lights in the corner saucers are blown
out by the priest and the light car
ried by the suicide is eXtinguished by
his son of nearest relative. The time
for the final act has come.
The nobleman, after announcing in
a solemn voice the insult offered to
him by his enemy, invokos the spirits
of his ancestors to see in what man
ner he upholds the family honor in.
trusted to him at his birth He rises
upon his left knee, takes hold Of the
wakizaski with his left hand, lifts
up his white robe with his right hand,
wrapping the end of the yellow sash
around his left wrist, and deliberate
ly inserts the dagger like knife above
the right hip bone. At the moment
he inserts the knife his next kin
takes the kahanna (ordinary sword)
and with swift blow sewers the head
OF the suicide from the trunk.