Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1891 — THE BLIND IN JAPAN. [ARTICLE]

THE BLIND IN JAPAN.

Formerly Shunned, but Now They Learn Useful Trades and Professions. At a recent meeting of the Asiatic Society of Japan, in Tokio, a paper full of curious and interesting information on the condition of the blind in Japan was read by Prof. Dixon. In early ages the blind were regarded as unlucky or uncanny, arid their condition was one of great misery, until one of the imperial princes was born in this state. His father collected around jjim a number of blind to amuse him, and when, on attaining maturity, he was appointed governor of three provinces, he took with him blind men to assist him, and for about three centuries the administration of these provinces was always in the hands of the blind. This prince also introduced the practice, which prevails at the present day, of the blind shaving their heads. During the civil contests of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries between the families of Taira and Minnamoto the blind officials were everywhere ejected, and those afflicted with the loss of sight fell into their early condition of (listress and misery. In course of time orders were issued to the local authorities to provide for the blind in their districts, and now they receive the attention and education' usual in all civilized countries.

The members of the blind guild, which has long existed, commonly followed two occupations, music or chanting or shampooing or massag», those who practiced the former being of a higher grade and frequently enjoying much popular favor. To this day all towns and villages in Japan have their blind shampooers, who go about after nightfall with a strange musical cry. The less skillful among the musicians became professional story-tellers. The higher official grades, which were at one time open to the blind, were eagerly sought after; those who held them were provided with special marks of their office, and during civil wars blind musicians were frequently qmployed as spies. The art of shampooing as practiced by the Japanese blind takes nine years to learn. The pupil for the first three years practices on his master; then he spends three years acquiring the art of acupuncture; and for the remaining three years he is on probation, his master receiving half his earnings. Blind men sometimes distinguish themselves outside their regular occupations. One was a famous go player; and itis'recorded that, having beaten a prince at the game, his antagonist in a fit of jealous anger killed him, and was himself executed for the crime. Another was a famous author, and compiled a valuable repertory of information in 635 volumes. The blind also practiced usury, and acquired much unpopularity from the harsh way in which they treated their debtors.—Goldthwaite’s Geographical Magazine: