ANCIENT JAPANESE LAWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 1 May 1897, Page 555

ANCIENT JAPANESE LAWS.

Private conduct wm regulated in Japan (■aye a writer in the Atlantic Monthly}, by some remarkable obligations entirely outside of written codes. A peasant girl, before marriage, enjoyed far more liberty than was permitted to city girls. She might be known to have a lover ; and unless her parents objected very strongly, no blame would be given to her. It was regarded as an honest union—honest, at least, as to intention. But having once made a choice the girl was held bound by that choice. If it were discovered that she met another admirer secretly the people would strip her naked—allowing her only a ehuro leaf for apron—and drive her in mockery through every street and alley of the village. Afterward the girl was sen tenced to banishment for five years. But at the end of that period she was considered to have expiated her fault and she could return home with the certainty of being spared further reproaches. The obligation of mutual help in time of calamity or danger was the most imperative of all communal obligations. In time of fire, especially, everybody was required to give immediate aid to the best of his or her ability. Even children were not exempted from this duty. In towns and cities, of course, things were differently ordered ; but in any little country village the universal duty was very plain and simple, and its neglect would have been considered unpardonable. This obligation of mutual help extended to religious matters ; everybody was expected to invoke the help of the gods for the sick. For example, the entire village might be ordered to make a sendo mairi on behalf of some one seriously ill. On such occasions the Kumi-cho (each Kumi cho was responsible for the conduct of five or more families) would run from house to house crying, ‘ Such and such a one is very sicK ; kindly hasten all to make a sendo mairi!’ Thereupon, however occupied for the moment, every soul in the settlement was expected to burry to the temple, taking care not to trip or stumble on the way. as a single misstep during the performance of a sendo mairi was believed to mean misfortune for the sick.