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Sketches of Japanese Manners and Customs
Excerpt from Sketches of Japanese Manners and Customs
It has several curious symbols, the most striking being huge aerial fishes, in imitation of the 'koi,' or carp large crimson streamers, repre sentations of Gongen Sama crushing a demon; and the heads and tails of crayfish, with which they decorate their dishes and the entrances of their houses. The ?oating fish ?ag is hoisted over every house in which a boy has been born during the preceding twelve months, and is emblematical of his future career. AS the koi,' or carp,' which is very plentiful in Japan, finds its way up streams and rivers, surmounting all obstacles in its way, and rendering itself by its fecundity and edible qualities useful to the whole country, so the child is to make his way through life, boldly fulfilling his destiny, and proving himself a useful and beneficial member of the community. In the same way, the scarlet streamer indicates the birth Of a female child, and the domestic nature of her duties. The crayfish are used to remind the people of their humble origin (it being traditionary that the empire originated from a race of poor fishermen), and the consequent necessity of humility, temperance, and frugality, in their different stations in life.
It has several curious symbols, the most striking being huge aerial fishes, in imitation of the 'koi,' or carp large crimson streamers, repre sentations of Gongen Sama crushing a demon; and the heads and tails of crayfish, with which they decorate their dishes and the entrances of their houses. The ?oating fish ?ag is hoisted over every house in which a boy has been born during the preceding twelve months, and is emblematical of his future career. AS the koi,' or carp,' which is very plentiful in Japan, finds its way up streams and rivers, surmounting all obstacles in its way, and rendering itself by its fecundity and edible qualities useful to the whole country, so the child is to make his way through life, boldly fulfilling his destiny, and proving himself a useful and beneficial member of the community. In the same way, the scarlet streamer indicates the birth Of a female child, and the domestic nature of her duties. The crayfish are used to remind the people of their humble origin (it being traditionary that the empire originated from a race of poor fishermen), and the consequent necessity of humility, temperance, and frugality, in their different stations in life.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryJapan
116 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2004
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January 21, 2013
A fascinating primer on 19th century Japan as seen through the eyes of a British solider. Information in the book is not a definite source of wisdom on the Japan of yesteryear, but rather should be seen as a diary of a Westerner in a strange land trying to make sense of the local customs, with all the biases that this entails. The book reveals as much about old Japan as it does about the mentality of Westerners then and that makes this a worthy albeit a bit too fast of a read.
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