Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1892 — HARAKIRI. [ARTICLE]

HARAKIRI.

How the Rea! Operation Is. Done by the Japanese. Harakiri, a peculiar mode of suicide, in the eyes of the nobility of Japan the most dignified and honorable way of all violent deaths, the only means of restoring honor, revenge being impossible, has seldom been witnessed by European or American eyes. As the word “harakiri” has crept into American politics, writes Albert de Leur, an explanation of its meaning in Japan may bo interesting, and the reader can • then judge if the adaptation of the word is allowable. Duelling is now and ever has been condemned by intelligent Japaneses, sis the uncertainty of its results was considered too hazardous to the settlemeut of its cause. For ages it has been the custom in Japan, when a Samurai considered himself insulted by one equal in rank, that the injured party should proceed to his home, call together his family and friends, inform thorn of the insult suffered at the hands of his enemy* and set apart a day upon which he would revenge himself and restore the family, honor, injured by the words or acts of his opponent, by Committing “harakiri.” The family and friends of the noble to commit suicide entered the room led by a priest, the latter bearing in his hands a full blooming lotus flower which he deposited aeross the sword lying upon the platform, and the spectators took seats around the room. The nobleman then entered, dressed in pure whit© garments with a yellow colored scarf encircling his body, and carrying in his hind a little saucer in which burned a wick lighted previously from the everlasting light in front of the family god. Aftpr recounting in a solemn voice the insult suffered by him from his enemy, be invoked the spirit of his ancestors to see in "what manner he uphold the family honor intrusted to him at nis birth, and rising upon his left knee ho would take hold of the wakizaska with his left 'h ind, lift up his white robe with his right hand, wrapping the end of the yellow sash around his left wrist* find deliberately anrl very slowly insert tho dagger-like knife into his stomach above the right hip bone and draw it across until within four or five inches of his left hip bone. At the moment he inserted the knife his next of kin would take the katana (ordinary sword) and with a swift blow sever the head of the suicide from the trunk.