Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

the practice. In modern times the child is dressed up in beautiful clothes;
but to put a cap on its head, thinking to make much of it, when, on the
contrary, it is hurtful to the child, should be avoided. It would be an excellent
thing if rich people, out of care for the health of their children,
would put a stop to a practice to which fashion clings.
On the hundred and twentieth day after their birth children, whether
male or female, are weaned. 133 This day is fixed, and there is no need to
choose a lucky day. If the child be a boy, it is fed by a gentleman of the
family; if a girl, by a lady. The ceremony is as follows:—The child is
brought out and given to the weaning father or sponsor. He takes it on
his left knee. A small table is prepared. The sponsor who is to feed the
child, taking some rice which has been offered to the gods, places it on
the corner of the little table which is by him; He dips his chop-sticks
thrice in this rice, and very quietly places them in the mouth of the child,
pretending to give it some of the juice of the rice. Five cakes of rice meal
are also placed on the left side of the little table, and with these he again
pretends to feed the child three times. When this ceremony is over, the
child is handed back to its guardian, and three wine-cups are produced
on a tray. The sponsor drinks three cups, and presents the cup to the
child. When the child has been made to pretend to drink two cups, it receives
a present from its sponsor, after which the child is supposed to
drink a third time. Dried fish is then brought in, and the baby, having
drunk thrice, passes the cup to its sponsor, who drinks thrice. More fish
of a different kind is brought in. The drinking is repeated, and the weaning
father receives a present from the child. The guardian, according to
rules of propriety, should be near the child. A feast should be prepared,
according to the means of the family. If the child be a girl, a weaning
mother performs this ceremony, and suitable presents must be offered
on either side. The wine-drinking is gone through as above.
On the fifteenth day of the eleventh month of the child's third year, be
the child boy or girl, its hair is allowed to grow. (Up to this time the
whole head has been shaven: now three patches are allowed to grow,
one on each side and one at the back of the head.) On this occasion also a
sponsor is selected. A large tray, on which are a comb, scissors, paper
string, a piece of string for tying the hair in a knot, cotton wool, and the
133.This is only a nominal weaning. Japanese children are not really weaned until far
later than is ordinary in Europe; and it is by no means uncommon to see a mother in
the poorer classes suckling a hulking child of from five to seven years old. One reason
given for this practice is, that by this means the danger of having to provide for
large families is lessened.
300