CHILDHOOD IN JAPAN.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1805, 15 October 1874, Page 2

CHILDHOOD IN JAPAN.

(PEOM ALL THB TBAB HOUND.)

The Japamese, as a race, are (gradually attracting more and more attention all over the worlds for notwithstanding their rigid exclusiveness. not only are they now importing much of our Western civilisation into, their own country, but numbers of their youth are constantly being sent to^ Europe and the United States of America for educational purposes. Under these circumstances, and 'because for many centuries the character |nd habits of the nation hare been to the outer world as a sealtd book, we venture to hope that a brief account of some of their customs-and usages, withr»speofc to children, may not prore unacceptable to our readers. A Japanese baby need be constitutionally strong, for it is by no meant over-delicately nurtured; its mother frequently carries it out in the open air in a stato of complete nudity and with it* head ahaven. Among the lower orders, the women, when at work in the field* and on other occasions, may be seen witk their infants fastened, almost like bundles, between their shoulders, so that they may be as little as possible in their way. In the houses, they arc ]eft to their own devices much more than with us, and there is no need to be alarmed about their tumbling down stairs, and eternally 4 coming to grief against fenders, coal- | boxes, mantelpieces, and similar objects of terror to a fond English mother, for such things do not exist in Japan. The*,,thick mats, which constitute almost tap^ only furniture of a Japanese house, are a splendid playground for the small atoms of humanity, for they can roll and sprawl about to their hearts' content, without, any any risk or fear of injury. There they play about with, the fat pug dogs and tailless cats; without any restraint and to the great benefit of their tiny frames. They art freely supplied with toys and other infantine amusements, as Japanese parents hare the reputation of being very kind to their offspring. - One curious custom in connection with a Japanese baby is that some of the clothes that it first wears are made from a girdle which its mother has worn, previous to its birth, the material being dyed sky blue for the purpose. The "Record of Ceremonies " says that " twenty-four baby robes, twelve of silk and twelve of - cotton, must be prepared, for th« new comer; the hems must be dyed with saffron color;" and that when the child has been washed, " it* bodymust,be/dried ' with a kerchief of fine cotton unhemmed." For the peace of mind .of,, parents of moderate means, it is devoutly to be hoped that the baby robes arc les(ai.expen* sive in Japan than in England. ' , "

Accounts.differ slightly as to when tHo Japanese baby receives its first name. Some say that it 13 ou tKe seventh, while Humbert asserts that ifc is on the thirtieth day after his birth. According to the latter authority, there ia no baptism of the child, properly so called; it is simply, in certain cases, presented in tho temple,, which its parents affect, aud without any ceremony of purification. The father gives three names to the priest, and h« writes them on separate pieces of paper, which are mixed topeth^r and then, with cerlain incantatory forms, thrown up in the air. The first that falls is.the chosen name. This is written out by "thp priest on consecrated paper and given to the child's parents to preserve. TKes'priests,pat .these times, are usually Jiijerally dealt with by parents in the "matter of presents, and they are expected to keep accurate registers'of all the children ,who are thus presented in the temple. This is the only approach to a religious ceremony in connection with the naming of a child. The occasion is celebrated'bv family visits and feasts, and the child receives certain presents, 15among which," says Humbert, "two fans figure, in the case of a male, and a pot" of pomade in that of a female child. The* 3fans are precm-sors of swords, aud the pomade is the presage of feminine charms. ..In both cases a packet of flax thread is added, signifying good wishes, for a long life." 'Mr.'. Mitford supplies a somewhat different version of the ceremony of naming a, child; for he quotes a translation of a Japanese MS, which says that "on the seventh day after its birth the child receives its name ; the ceremony is the congratulations of the seventh night. On this day some one of the relations of the family, who holds an exalted position either from his rank or virtues, selects a name for the child, which name he keeps until the time of the. catting : of the forelock, whem he takes the name which he is to bear as a man. The second name is called the ' cap-name,' which is compounded of syllables taken from an old name of the family, and from the name of the sponsor. If the sponsor afterwards change his name r the namechild must also change his name."

; According to ancient custom, baby clothes ought to .be left off on the seventyfiftli or the one hundred and twentieth day after birth, and at the latter date the child (in theory, though not in practice) is weaned. At the ceremony which takes place on that day, " If the child be a boy it is fed by a gentleman of the family; if a girl, by a lady." The account of the proceedings on this occasion, as given by the Japanese Record of Ceremonie», is decidedly amusing to the European mind, but is aomeirhat too long for quotation, here. When he is three year 3 old, the Japanese infant is invested with a sword belt, arid for years later with two diminutive swords, if he belong to the privileged class. The child's head is completely shaved until he is close upon four years old, and then three patches are grown, one at the back and one each side. On this occasion the Record of Ceremonies ordains that " a large tray, on-'which are a comb, scissors, paperstring, a piece of string for tying tho hair in a knipt,, cotton wool, and a bit of dried fish or seaweed which accompanies presents, one, of each, and seven rics straws—these seven articles must be prepared." In another year's time the child i» put into the loose trousers peculiar to the privileged class, and lie is then presented with a dr*ss of ceremony, on which are . •mbroid«d storks and tortoises (emblems of longevity—the stork is said to live a thousand years, the tortoise ten thousand,) firfcrees (which being evergreen, and not changing color, are emblematical of an unchangingly virtuous heart), and bamboos (emblematical of an upright and straight mind)." ; .