HOME LIFE IN JAPAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3801, 18 January 1927, Page 33

HOME LIFE IN JAPAN.

LECTURE AT THEOSOPHICAL

HALL.

At the Theosophical Hall on Saturday night Mrs Hilda Wood gave a lantern lecture on “Home Life in Japan.” Mr W. A. Scott, in briefly introducing the _ lecturer, said that the Theosophical Society was out to assist the world in its onward and upward journey. They had a herculean task, but if everyone did their best perceptible results would accrue.

Mrs Wood, who has a good collection of pictures of Japanese life and scenery, said she desired to not only give an interesting lecture, but also one that would instruct. She referred to the aims and aspirationsof countries outside our own, and said that the outlook of other lands should be respected. This would lead to a greater possibility of .general peace, which was a thing much to be desired, as the peoples of the world were brothers. The ideas* of the Japanese might be different from our own, but they had something very defin ' e to Contribute to the beauty, the sympathy, and the peace of the world. The lecturer then proceeded, with the assistance of the lantern slides, to give some particulars of the life of the Japanese people, more particularly in the smaller towns. She said that there were an enormous number of oicycles in Japan, and tiiat when one Japanese cyclist ran into another cyclist they took the accident very philosophically, bowing to each other. The housec were all made of wood, and watchmen were stationed -n towers to ring out an alarm if a fire broke out. If the bell were rung three times you had to run for your life, as you knew then that the fire was in your district, and fires spread very quickly amongst the wooden houses. Twice or once meant that the danger was not so near. About 150 earthquakes—little and big—occurred in Japan every year, and yet the people appeared very happy. Among the many festivals was the “boy day,” held on May 5 every year, when huge paper fishes were flown from the buildings. The paper cylinders were distended by the wind, and there were very many of them. The emblem of the fish was to stimulate courage in the boys, by the example of its • indomitable perservorance in swimming up rivers in face of all obstacles to its breeding ground. Girls had a “doll’s dav.” They did not play with the dolls—they were placed on shelves, and were only looked at. The boys had very beautiful natures They were never beaten by their parents or their teachers, and very seldom were harshly spoken to. The boys never fought or roared out —they were always very gentle. The lecturer read a letter written by an invalid boy to his own soul, in which he invoked its aid to help him to get better. Information regarding the naming of the babies was given, and Mrs flood said that if a child was born on the last day of the year tho following day it was two years old. The religious rites, tee making of presents, and the other incidents cf a baby’s life were referred to and the practice of giving a boy a girl s name, and vice versa, where previous children in a family ha ddied, so as to cheat the evil spirits, was dealt with. A mother with a weak child would visit 33 families and secure a piece of cloth from each and with this cloth the baby would be made a dress, it being hoped that the hopes for its welfare of the 33 families would give it strength. A baby boy was not allowed to walk before it was 12 months old. If he showed a desire to do so, a small bag of rice was affixed to Ids ' shoulders to unbalance him. Compulsory education was in force in Japan. At. 60 a man received a great celebration, because he had become a baby again at that age, and he had the privilege of wearing once more red-lined clothes. At i .received another celebration, and when he died his relatives received congratulations ; they were not condoled with according to the European custom. There was no furniture in the houses, said Mrs '' °l’ W h° • then went on to refer to the marriage customs. A marria-e uas made by the bride and the bridegroom each drinking three cups of tea. Some beautiful gardens were shown—the Japanese arrange the gardens on examples of natural landscape—but their garden plans are very conventional. A national holiday was held every year to celebrate the blooming of the cherry blossom—the emblem of perfection. Other holidays wers held every month to celebrate the growth of other flowers. They had a great love of beauty in Japan, although their large gardens were laid out on conventional lines. It took a Japanese lady two or three hours to do up her hair, and the coiffure had to last for three days. The ladies had their face's shaved, and the barber would also shave the hair inside the nose, ,if he were allowed, said Mrs Wood. The ladies painted their faces white, and did it quite openly. A lady never talked about herself or her family or her children—it was not etiquette. You could not swear in Japanese. There were no swear words You could, however, express disapprobation of any one by leaving l. :t ' ’ hono 'r.'ible” when addressing him Thus, “Your head,” not “your honourable head,” and so on. Children were learnt to always smile, so that they should not pass any of their sorrows on to somebody else. • The Japanese were very fond of charms. I heir ghosts had long hair, but no feet. There were plenty of things to amuse and entertain the Japanese—wrestling matches, theatres, movie pictures—they made thjir own pictures—but they had no music ’n the theatres. The New Year fes tivals lasted a week. The large stone lanterns .art- quite a feature ~in Japan, and sereval oictures of these structures were shown, and also a picture of a huge stone Buddha—one of the wonders of the world, said Mrs Wood. The Japanese were always ready to take their own lives on the Slightest provocation. On one. bridge, which had. evidently become very popular to the suicide, (here was an inscription, “Please, do not commit suicide here.” The country always come before the Japanese ,and he would do anything to guard its honour, even to taking bis own life.

At the conclusion of her lecture, Mrs Wood was rewarded with hearty applause.