SPIRIT OF HARAKIRI STILL SURVIVES

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 236, 6 October 1936, Page 10

SPIRIT OF HARAKIRI STILL SURVIVES

<J»HE SPIRIT OF harakiri! Deep under all the outward manifestations of life in the Land of the Rising Sun hovers this all-pervasive spirit, so essentially and peculiarly Japanese, giving the nation its strength, unity and direction. Though the actual practice of harakiri belongs almost entirely to the realm of legend, its real signifle'ance is perhaps more apparent, more potent in the new Japan than in the old. However, even in tho literal sense, Japan of the harakiri is not yet dead. it was March 1, ISGB, in the ancient harbour of Kobe on the Inland Sea. For more than 15 years relations with the United States had been strained to the breaking point. Tho governments of the two countries had just effected o. reconciliation, when an incident occurred that might have had very serious consequences. A Japanese army officer ordered hi 3 troops to lire on! a group of innocent American citizens. Although no one was hurt, American representatives demanded the death-punishment of Taki Zenzaburo, the commander. For diplomatic reasons the Japanese Government felt it best to concede to their wishes. In accordance with an old Japanese custom, the condemned man was allowed to take his own life by harakiri. At 10.30 in the evening, seven Japanese officials and seven foreign representatives betake themselves to the temple designated for the ceremony. They step into the wide temple-hall: dark wooden pillars support a high roof; ornamental lanterns hang from ino ceiling, dazzling white mats cover the floor. On a slightly raised platform stands the high altar, before which is spread a red felt carpet. Lofty can delabras shed a sad ghostly light through tho room, making it just possible to seo everything that is taking place around the altar. To the right of the platform the Japanese witnesses take their place, while the foreigners go on to the left.

A few moments of tense expectant silence pass with uncanny slowness . . . . . Suddenly, noiselessly, a sliding door opens and Taki Zenzaburo, a powerful niafi about 32 years old, enters with proud and erect bearing. He is dressed in the traditional ceremonial costume with hempen “wings," only

worn in Japan on the most auspicious occasions. An assistant, (chosen by his friends for his swordsmanship) and three officers accompany' him. The con-

demned man bow’s courteously to the

assembled witnesses who return his

greeting with an equal show of respect. Slowly and with great dignity tho

prisoner ascends tho raised platform, prostrates himself before the altar, and

then, turning his back to It, according to Japanese custom, kneels down upion

the red carpet. Tho assistant assumes

a crouched position immediately behind

him to the left. One of the officers

steps forward and hands Zanzaburo a

small tripod which ho lifts to his head and then sets down before himself on the floor floor. On it, wrapped in white paper, lies a “ wakisashi," the narrow pointed Japaneso dagger, D;V inches tong and as sharp as «, razor blade. The doomed man makes a last deep obeisance, and in a voice that trembles

JAPANESE SELF-CONTROL

Ceremonial and Technique

only very slightly confesses his guilt. His face and general behaviour betray’ nr; signs of emotion. He concludes with these words; “For this crime I shall now commit harakiri and I beg you to attend as witnesses of this act." Then ho allows his robes to slip down to tho waist, and slowly, as custom requires, places the sleeves beneath his knees, (to avoid falling backward, for a Japaneso nobleman must dies falling forward!.. With firm hand he grasps the dagger. For a moment he regards it thoughtfully, even lovingly. . Then he plunges it into the left side of his abdomen, draws it slowly to the right, prolongs the cut upwards. . . Kot a muscle of his face twitches. Only when he lias withdrawn the dagger, does an expression of pain cross his countenance, but lio utters no sound. . At this moment, the assistant, who has been carefully observing his every move, springs up, draws his sword—a

flash, a dullish horrible thud, a precipitous" fall—and with one stroke he has

severed the head from the body. The

ceremony is ended.

Although the Emperor Meiji abolished harakiri as a legal method of punishment a few months later s tke- custom

still persisted, especially among the samurai (military and the aristocrats. Often they would feel themselves obliged to commit tho act for what—according to our ideas—were really insignificant olfouces. Their severe code of honour daily led to complications of a personal or social nature which could only bo redeemed by harakiri of the persons concerned. Like a sword of Damocles it hung above their heads, for any moment a situation might arise that would force them, for the sake of their own self-respect, to commit harakiri. The ceremonial aud technique of the act as just described, had in every case to bo carried out most scrupulously, and tho performance of this indescribably painful operation required no small dogreo of anatomical knowledge, as well as enormous self-control. To this end samurai children from infancy were instructed in the spirit and technique of

harakirio, that is, in tho endurance of physical pain and the acquirement of

spiritual self-mastery. Even their dolls

were anatomically punctured, so that they might practice the act on them in preparation for the day when they would in all probability be called upon to direct the treacherous dagger to their own bodies.

Modern Japan, as has been said, generally • turns aside from the outward form of tho harakiri, but the conviction out of which it grew, that spirit of disregard for bodily pain and "preparedness” in meeting the blows of fate, that high sense of honour, still manifest themselves to-day in individual and public life. For this far-off eastern Island is the classic land of the "Liebestot—love of death. Tragic young lovers whose union is prevented by outward circumstances leap into the seething craters of the Asamayama and Miharayama volcanoes . . Prisoners of war -shoot themselves rather than prolong a shameful existence. . . And how many crimes have been expiated over tho brink of the 300 ft. high Nikko waterfall . • ’