Etiquette for Japanese Empress

The Japanese Way

Rules That Must Be Observed When Her Majesty Passes Along A Street 

A recent visitor to Japan says that there has existed in Japan for many centuries a curious law to the effect that whenever the Emperor or Empress appeared in public no other person should seem to occupy a higher place than this member of the royal family; therefore, on such occasions the shutters of all upper stories were drawn and the upper parts of the houses through which the royal party moved, were seemingly deserted.

The Law Is Still In Effect

Three months ago, when the Empress went into the country for a brief period, an elaborate announcement was posted in conspicuous places along the line of her contemplated route commanding the public to observe strictly certain requirements of etiquette, to wit: 

When her Majesty shall past along no one must look at her from the frame built on houses for the drying of clothes, or through cracks in doors, or from any position in the upper part of their houses. 

If anybody wishes to see her Majesty, he or she must sit down at the side at the road by which her Majesty will pass. 

All children must be taken particular care of that they do not play in the road and so obstruct the passage of her Majesty through the streets. 

No one must look at her Majesty without taking off his hat, in neck-cloth or turban, or whatever else be may be wearing on his head. 

Moreover, no one must be smoking while he or she is looking at her Majesty, nor must anyone carry a stick or cane. 

Only women wearing the clothes of foreigners will be permitted to retain their head-covering.

Although it may rain, no person will be allowed to put up an umbrella while her Majesty maybe passing. 

Dogs must not be allowed to wander on the road by which her Majesty will pass. 

Until the passage of her Majesty, the route by which she will come will be kept free from carriages and jinrikashas. The roads which she will take must be completely free from all traffic. 

As her Majesty passes, no one must raise his voice, nor must any sound be heard, nor must the crowd close in and follow her carriage, for no noise must be made. 

When her Majesty reaches Umeda Station there will be a discharge of fifty fire-works. — New Orleans' Picayune, 1890

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Japan's Empress' Etiquette of Dress

Civilisation has reached a stage
never yet attained in the past history of this country, and everything seems to point to the necessity of reviving the old 'standing etiquette' of the Naniwa Court, for it is evident that the sitting form of etiquette can no longer hold its place in society. 

Japanese Female Costumes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Empress Advises Her Countrywomen How to Dress

Her Imperial Majesty, addressing the wives of the high dignitaries and nobles of the Empire, has given expression to the following views with respect to the dress of the women of Japan:

"In ancient times the costume of the women of Japan consisted of an upper garment and a skirt. Following in the wake of the administrative reforms instituted in the period of Taikwa, in the reign of the Emperor Kotoku, a specific style of court costume was fixed and established in the reign of the Emperor Jito; while later, during the reign of the Emperor Gensho, the folding of the left side of the dress over the right side was prohibited.

Still later, in the time of the Emperor Shomu, a decree was promulgated throughout the Empire ordaining that all women should adopt and wear a style of dress which had been established by law. The new costume consisted of an upper garment and a skirt, and in some cases women went the length of wearing two skirts, an inner and an outer. This custom, however, was afterwards prohibited by statute. Thus, until the middle ages, the women of this country, both in cities and in the rural districts, continued to wear a skirt, which was generally of a scarlet color.

But about this period dissensions arose among the members of the Imperial Family as to the succession, and a Northern and a Southern Court being formed, the country was for a long time the scene of civil discord and warfare. Under each circumstances our women were compelled by necessity to content themselves with only one upper garment. Once established as a custom this style of dress continued long after the conditions that had prompted its introduction ceased to exist, the skirt being dispensed with, and the upper garment simply lengthened to cover and protect the lower limbs.

In recent years since the period of Yenpo, the width of the belt was gradually increased until the costume as a whole has assumed its present form. But a dress consisting only of an upper garment, and destitute of a skirt, is manifestly imperfect, and ought to be supplemented in some way on the lines of the ancient costume of Japan.

Moreover, civilisation has reached a stage never yet attained in the past history of this country, and everything seems to point to the necessity of reviving the old 'standing etiquette' of the Naniwa Court, for it is evident that the sitting form of etiquette can no longer hold its place in society. If we examine the dress of Western women we find that it, like the old dress of Japanese women, consists of both upper garment and skirt, and, further, that not only does it lend itself readily to the requirements of the 'standing etiquette,' but also affords every facility and ease for changes of posture and for the movement of the limbs.

It is, therefore, only right and proper that we should borrow suggestions from the Western style in order to the improvement of our clothing. But, in endeavoring to bring about this costume reform, there is one consideration that ought to receive very special attention, and that is the necessity of utilizing as far as it is at all possible, the fabrics manufactured and the materials produced in this country.

If the products of our own land are properly made use of, then the reform in question will certainly tend to impart a powerful stimulus to the progress of manufactures and of the fine arts in Japan, while at the same time it will confer no inconsiderable benefit on merchants and others. It may therefore be expected confidently to be productive of good in many respects other than the mere improvement of the costume of our women.

Passage from an old into a new order of things, as in this case, cannot fail to be attended by great, and in many instances needless, expenditure of money; but if due care be exercised, if the wearer's expenses are kept proportionate to her means, and if simplicity is always preferred to extravagance, I think it will be possible to attain the object hoped for without undue lavishness. These are my sentiments and my hopes in reference to this reform in the costume of Japanese women." — The Daily Alta, 1887

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia