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ME. BAI TALKS POLITICS. 93
joined it to iy, and the child was taken to the
temple and there named
" Yoshi-iye'.
As the boy grew up, it was seen that his nature
was full of energy and perseverance. Nothing
could turn him back from his set purpose except
the orders of his parents or superiors, whom he
always obeyed without asking Naze ' (why)
? '
He
continually practiced with the bow, spear, and sword.
In time his archery became the theme of praise
throughout the army. He rode by his father in all
his military expeditions, and never feared the whizzing
of arrows or the cries of the enemy.
" Until the age of fifteen it is the custom of Japanese
lads to wear the hair in boyish style, that is
with a forelock. Arriving at mature years (fifteen)
the youth has his forehead shaved with much ceremony
in the presence of relatives. Then putting on
the manly dress of tunic and loose trowsers, he receives
the congratulations of his friends and is
henceforth known and treated as a man. If his
father dies, and he is the eldest son, he becomes the
head of the family. On the occasion, which is
called gem-buku, Yoshi-iy6 was not shaved and robed
indoors as usual, but went out to the shrine of Hachiman,
the god of the eight banners, and there submitted
to the ceremony. He also put on his Sboshi,
or high, black paper cap of rank, in front of the
shrine. For this he was named Hachiman-taro, or
the war-god's firstborn son.' Thence after he
'
went to war in the north, and whenever in battle
the enemy saw a valiant soldier slaughtering
his tens