caused to swell to frightful proportions. The flesh is cut with knives or pierced with wire.1 Men are sometimes buried to the neck, or are hung by the heels to a tree. The worship of some of the cruel Hindu divinities, especially the goddess Kali, is frequently attended with shocking exhibitions, which must involve intense suffering to the participants.2 In China a prominent motive to self-mutilation is devotion to sick parents. Dutiful sons and daughters will cut off pieces of their own flesh, of which soup is made and given to a sick or infirm parent.3 Other species of voluntary suffering, not always, however, from religious or filial motives, but with a view to gain, are walking with the feet or back bare in severe wintry weather, or appearing upon public occasions with iron chains around the body and heavy wooden collars around the neck, or swinging weighty censers fastened to the flesh by brass hooks, or causing self-deformity or loathsome ulcers upon the person with a view to excite sympathy and secure gain. In Mohammedan lands religious celebrations are frequently attended with these fanatical cruelties. Devotees will pierce and mutilate themselves, and in some instances prostrate themselves upon the ground to be trampled upon by horses with riders seated on their backs. Hinduism and Mohammedanism seem to present almost the only exhibition of this delusion, although Romanism has encouraged in the shape of ascetic penances much grievous bodily suffering, while among the pagan Indians of British Columbia acts of extreme self-cruelty are known to be practised. Self-destruction prevalent in many lands. 6. SUICIDE.-There is nothing distinctive in the act of self-destruction in non-Christian lands except its prevalence, or the fact that it results from some pessimistic influence of the environment. It is more common in China than in any other nation of the earth,5 and is resorted to for reasons peculiar to Chinese modes of thought. Its frequency results, no doubt, from the frivolous estimate placed upon human life, and the strange notion that personal grievances may be avenged 1 Bishop Thoburn, "India and Malaysia," pp. 125–130. 2 1894. Popular Hinduism," p. 50, Papers on Indian Religious Reform, Madras, 66 Douglas, "Society in China," p. 183; Smith, 'Chinese Characteristics," P. 178. 4 Du Bose, "The Dragon Image and Demon," p. 265. 5 Ball, "Things Chinese," p. 434. in this way and that more injury may be done to the living than to the victim himself.1 There is a singular theory in Chinese official circles that self-destruction on the part of a ruler in times of public danger is a matter of high merit. "The perfect man," according to Confucius, "is one who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life."2 The act is sometimes resorted to by military leaders in time of defeat, either for the above reason, from a sense of shame, or to escape punishment at the hands of the Government. The causes which lead to it in most cases are trivial, such as a shortage in accounts, a family quarrel, jealousy, or marital infelicity arising from the practice of polygamy. Even children of tender years resort to it when disciplined by teachers or parents.3 It is especially prevalent among women, on account of domestic unhappiness or from the desire to punish an incorrigible husband. It is considered an act of merit for a widow to follow her husband to the grave. Dread of the matrimonial alliance sometimes leads to self-destruction by young girls. The wives of native converts to Christianity have been known to adopt this vigorous method of protest to their husbands' change of faith. The doctrine of transmigration no doubt renders suicide easier, since the victim expects to continue his existence in a state possibly better than the one he now occupies.5 The most popular methods of accomplishing the act are by opium, by drowning, or by eating matches, as none of these instrumentalities mutilates the person, which passes intact into another life, the popular opinion being that any mutilation of the body in death must be continued in the existence beyond. The use of opium has had a tendency greatly to facilitate and multiply suicides. The Chinese New Year is a favorite time for accomplishing the act. A missionary physician reports having been called to ten cases in a single month, and to nearly as many in the month following.7 In Japan suicide has occupied a position of historic honor which has characterized it nowhere else in the world. It has been even canonized 1 Du Bose, "The Dragon Image and Demon," p. 453; Norman, "The Peoples and Politics of the Far East," p. 278. 2 Moule,"New China and Old," p. 50. 3 The Mission Field, London, March, 1894, p. 89; The Messenger, Shanghai, May, 1895, p. 74. 4 Ball, “Things Chinese,” p. 434; Medhurst, "The Foreigner in Far Cathay," P. 105. 5 Ball, "Things Chinese," p. 435. 6 The Missionary Herald, Boston, February, 1895, p. 57. The Missionary Record, March, 1895, p. 88. |