history of japan - Library

[1] The following from Titsingh is fairly correct. "All, military
men, and persons holding civil offices under the
Government are bound, when they have committed any
crime, to rip themselves up, but not till they have received
an order from the Court to that effect; for if they were to
anticipate this order, their heirs would run the risk of being
deprived of their places and property. For this reason all
the officers of the government are provided, in addition to
their usual dress, and to that which they put on in the case
of fire, with a suit; necessary on such an occasion, which
they carry with them whenever they travel from home. It
consists of a white robe and a habit of ceremony made of
hempen cloth and without armorial bearings. The outside of
the house is hung with white stuffs; for the palaces of the
great and the places at which they stop by the way when
doing to, or returning from, Yedo are hung with coloured
stuffs tin which their arms are embroidered---a privilege
enjoyed also by the Dutch envoy. As soon as the order of
the Court has been communicated to the culprit, he invites
his intimate friends for the appointed day and regales them
with sake. After they have drunk together some time, he
takes leave of them; the order of the Court is then read to
him once more. Among the great this reading takes place
in the presence of their secretary and the inspector; the
person who performs the principal part in this tragic scene
then addresses a speech of compliment to the company;
after which he inclines his head towards the mat (takes up
the dirk from the stand before him, and cuts himself with it
across the belly, penetrating to the bowels. One of his