Polygamy is allowed in Japan, as in other Asiatic coun tries; though, in general, all but one female, who is acknow ledged a wife, are merely -regarded as concubines. This, of course, applies to the higher classes ; the poor can only maintain one woman. The husband here, as in all eastern countries, exerts a complete despotism, but the wives are not so closely shut up as in China. Married women distinguish themselves in some places by painting their teeth black,•nd in others by pulling out the hair of their eyebrows. They are known also by wearing the knot of their girdle before, while others have it behind. Marriages are solemnized in the open air, in the presence of the priests and relations of the parties, without much pomp or solemnity. The bridegroom and bride advance together to an altar, erected for the purpose, with a torch in their hands, and while the priest reads a form of prayer, the latter having lighted her torch at a burning lamp, holds it out to the bridegroom, who lights his torch from hers. The guests then con gratulate the new married couple, and the ceremony is concluded. The suitor makes a present to the father-in law before obtaining his daughter ; so that the more daugh ters a man has, and the handsomer their persons, so much the richer is he esteemed. The women often paint their lips with a violet colour ; and are described by Thunberg as not remarkable for modesty. Nor are they the less es teemed for having served in the public brothels, establish ments which are found in every town and village.
The bodies of persons of distinction are burned, while others are interred. The funeral pile is erected in a small house of stone fitted for the purpose, and provided with a chimney. The body is brought thither, accompanied by men and women, and attended by a numerous train of priests, who are continually occupied in singing. Upon reaching the place for burning, one of the priests sings the eulogy of the deceased, and having thrice waved a lighted torch over the body, throws it away. It is then picked up by one of the children, or other relatives of the deceased, and applied to the funeral pile. The ashes are carried away in a costly vessel, and preserved for some time in the house, but afterwards are buried in the earth. Those who are not burned are inclosed in a wooden chest, and let down into a grave in the customary manner. Fragrant spices are cast into the grave, and flowers planted on the earth which covers it. The surviving relatives visit the tombs of their friends for many years after their death, and sometimes during the whole of their lives, besides observ ing, as in China, the feast of lanthorns in honour of the dead.
In every superstitious country, we find the celebration of festivals attended by a relaxation of public morals, but in Japan a salutary check is imposed upon an abandonment to licentiousness by a wise regulation, prohibiting the celebra tion of national feasts for days successively. In conformi
ty %id) this law, the feast called Kermes is held on the 11th, 13th, and 15th days of October. Krusenstern mentions a feast celebrated on the 1st of April called Mussume Mat zu•y, on which occasion parents present dolls to their chil dren. Trifling as the object of this festival appears, the Japanese seem to regard it otherwise, as they gravely re quested the suspension of the work of the ship carpenters ashore during its celebration, which consists in dances, dramatic representations, and magnificent processions. The usual holidays in Japan are the first day of every month, when they rise early, dress in their best clothes, and visit their superiors or friends to wish them joy of the new moon ; the fifteenth day, when the moon is at the full ; and the twenty-eighth day, or the day before the new month. Besides these monthly festivals, they celebrate five others which happen only once in the year, namely, the first day of the new year ; the third day of the third month ; the fifth day of the fifth month ; the seventh day of the seventh month ; and the ninth day of the ninth month. These, which are all uneven numbers, are regarded by the Ja panese as unlucky days ; and, therefore, laying aside all business, they are dedicated to mirth and mutual con gratulations. On some of these days, in preference to or dinary days, they choose to celebrate their nuptials, and to give their entertainments. Their amusements on these occasions consist chiefly in dramatic representations and dances. In their theatres, the spectators sit on benches fronting the stage, which is a little elevated, but so small and narrow as seldom to allow room for more than one or two actors at a time. They generally represent some great exploit or love story of their divinities and heroes, which are frequently composed in verse, and sometimes accom panied with music. No machinery or decorations are brought forward; but the chief part of the amusement seems to consist in the frightful dresses and uncouth contortions of the actors. The dances at private entertainments are per formed by young women and boys hired for the purpose, who exhibit a variety of pantomimical gestures and evolu tions, expressive of some heroic action or love intrigue, regulating their steps at the same time by the music.
The most prevalent religious sects in Japan are those of Sinto and Budsdo. That of Sinto, which is the most an cient, though its adherents are now least numerous, is con ceived to have originated from Babylonian emigrants, and to have been originally very simple and pure in its tenets.