Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
was symbolical of the truth of what was said there, and behind the name
shirasu
there lies,
perhaps, the verb of the same pronunciation meaning “inform.”
The most serious punishment was the death penalty, which might take several forms,
andmightalsobefollowedbyexposureofthecorpse,asanaddedshame.Crimesforwhich
death was the punishment included murder, robbery, and some kinds of adultery, while
burning alive was the fate of anyone convicted of arson, a much-feared crime in Japan. As
analternativetodeathattheexecutioner'shand,a
samurai
wassometimesallowedtocom-
mit suicide
(seppuku),
by which act he preserved his honor: what in fact usually happened
was that immediately the knife was plunged into the left side of the abdomen, and the cut
made towards the center, the head was struck off by a blow from a friend's sword, thus
cutting short the death-agony. The punishment next in severity was banishment of various
degrees, from exile on some distant island down to banishment beyond ten
ri
(25 miles)
from Edo, banishment from Edo, or just exclusion from the culprit's home district. Lighter
punishmentsvariedaccordingtoclass.Therewereperiodsofhousearrestandotherrestric-
tions on liberty. Women were sometimes punished by having their hair shaved off. Impris-
onmentwasnotapunishment; prisonsexistedonlyasplacesfordetention whileadecision
was taken about guilt and sentence. Treatment in them was harsh, although a magistrate,
Ooka, who served from 1717 to 1736, and who is still remembered for his legendary abil-
ity in solving difficult cases, is credited with having brought in humanitarian reforms, es-
pecially in relation to the interrogation of prisoners. Even in prison,
samurai
were lodged
separatelyaccordingtowhethertheyweresuperiororinferiorinrank,andapartfromcom-
moners, while women were also kept in separate areas. Yet another testimony to the power
of authority in Japan is that if a serious fire broke out near the jail, the prisoners were re-
leased on parole, although with the prospect of very heavy penalties if they failed to return
at the specified time.
