Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/335

and to the Graves of Jimmu Tenno (the First Emperor), the late Imperial Father and the late Imperial Mother respectively.

6. The Imperial Marriage shall be reported to Kashiko Dokoro, Kworei Den, and Shin Den on the day when the ceremony takes place.

7. The ceremony of the Imperial Marriage shall be performed before the Temple of Kashiko Dokoro, according to the forms specially prescribed.

9. The Emperor and the Empress shall present themselves to the Temples of Kworei Den and Shin Den when the ceremony of the Imperial Marriage is finished.

12. The Emperor and the Empress shall present themselves to Jingu and to the respective Graves of Jimmu Tenno, the late Imperial Father and the late Imperial Mother, after the ceremony of the Imperial Marriage is performed.

15. The ceremony of marriage of Kwo Taishi (the Imperial son who is Heir-apparent), Kwo Taison (the Imperial grandson who is Heir-apparent), Shinno (Imperial male descendants, from Imperial sons to Imperial great-great-grandsons), or Wo (Imperial male descendants from the fifth generation downwards), shall be performed before the Temple of Kashiko Dokoro, according to the forms specially prescribed.

In the House Law (Ko-riyo) of the Taiho Code are enumerated the famous Seven Grounds of Divorce. The Code says ‘for abandoning a wife there must be one of the following seven grounds of divorce: First, sterility; second, adultery; third, disobedience to the father-in-law or the mother-in-law; fourth, loquacity; fifth, larceny; sixth, jealousy; seventh, bad disease.’ If any of these grounds exist the wife may be abandoned, the husband signing the necessary deed, which must be countersigned by the nearest ascendants. If any of these persons cannot write the mark of the thumb may be made in place of the signature. The enumeration of the causes of divorce shows plainly that the object of marriage was the perpetuation of worship. The reason for sterility being made the first ground of divorce scarcely needs explanation. The commentators of the Taiho Code say that sterility here does not mean actual barrenness, but the failure of male issue. The marriage being contracted for a special object, and that object failing, it was justifiable to dissolve the union. A man was, in fact, under a moral obligation to his ancestors to do so.

Adultery is recognised by most nations as a ground of divorce; but the reasons of its recognition differ considerably in ancient and modern legislations. In the eyes of the Taiho