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unmeaning italics。 He would regard such discourse much as we do those
effusive epistles of a certain type of young woman to her most intimate
girl friends； in which every other word is emphatically underlined。
For the most part； the absolutely necessary personal references are
introduced by honorifics； that is； by honorary or humble expressions。 Such
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is a portion of the latter's duty。 They do a great deal of unnecessary work
besides。
These honorifics are； taken as a whole； one of the most interesting
peculiarities of Japanese； as also of Korean； just as； taken in detail； they
are one of its most dangerous pitfalls。 For silence is indeed golden
compared with the chagrin of discovering that a speech which you had
meant for a compliment was； in fact； an insult； or the vexation of learning
that you have been industriously treating your servant with the deference
due a superior；two catastrophes sure to follow the attempts of even the
most cautious of beginners。 The language is so thoroughly imbued with
the honorific spirit that the exposure of truth in all its naked simplicity is
highly improper。 Every idea requires to be more or less clothed in courtesy
before it is presentable； and the garb demanded by etiquette is complex
beyond conception。 To begin with； there are certain preliminary particles
which are simply honorific； serving no other purpose whatsoever。 In
addition to these there are for every action a small infinity of verbs； each
sacred to a different degree of respect。 For instance； to our verb 〃to give〃
corresponds a complete social scale of Japanese verbs； each conveying the
idea a shade more politely than its predecessor； only the very lowest
meaning anything so plebeian as simply 〃to give。〃 Sets of laudatory or
depreciatory adjectives are employed in the same way。 Lastly； the word
for 〃is；〃 which strictly means 〃exists；〃 expresses this existence under three
different forms；in a matter…of…fact； a flowing； or an inflated style； the
solid； liquid； and gaseous states of conversation； so to speak； to suit the
person addressed。 But three forms being far too few for the needs of so
elaborate a politeness； these are supplemented by many interpolated
grades。
Terms of respect are applied not only to those mortals who are held in
estimation higher than their fellows； but to all men indiscriminately as
well。 The grammatical attitude of the individual toward the speaker is of
as much importance as his social standing； I being beneath contempt； and
you above criticism。
Honorifics are used not only on all possible occasions for courtesy； but
at times； it would seem； upon impossible ones； for in some instances the
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The Soul of the Far East
most subtle diagnosis fails to reveal in them a relevancy to anybody。
That the commonest objects should bear titles because of their connection
with some particular person is comprehensible； but what excuse can be
made for a phrase like the following； 〃It respectfully does that the august
seat exists；〃 all of which simply means 〃is；〃 and may be applied to
anything； being the common wordin Japanese it is all one word nowfor
that apparently simple idea。 It would seem a sad waste of valuable
material。 The real reason why so much distinguished consideration is
shown the article in question lies in the fact that it is treated as existing
with reference to the person addressed； and therefore becomes ipso facto
august。
Here is a still subtler example。 You are； we will suppose； at a tea…
house； and you wish for sugar。 The following almost stereotyped
conversation is pretty sure to take place。 I translate it literally； simply
prefacing that every tea…house girl； usually in the first blush of youth； is
generically addressed as 〃elder sister；〃 another honorific； at least so
considered in Japan。
You clap your hands。 （Enter tea…house maiden。）
You。 Hai； elder sister； augustly exists there sugar？
The T。 H。 M。 The honorable sugar； augustly is it？
You。 So； augustly。
The T。 H。 M。 He （indescribable expression of assent）。 （Exit tea…
house maiden to fetch the sugar。）
Now； the 〃augustlies〃 go almost without saying； but why is the sugar
honorable？ Simply because it is eventually going to be offered to you。
But she would have spoken of it by precisely the same respectful title； if
she had been obliged to inform you that there was none； in which case it
never could have become yours。 Such is politeness。 We may note； in
passing； that all her remarks and all yours； barring your initial question；
meant absolutely nothing。 She understood you perfectly from the first； and
you knew she did； but then； if all of us were to say only what were
necessary； the delightful art of conversation would soon be nothing but a
science。
The average Far Oriental； indeed； talks as much to no purpose as his
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Western cousin； only in his chit…chat politeness replaces personalities。
With him； self is suppressed； and an ever…present regard for others is
substituted in its stead。
A lack of personality is； as we have seen； the occasion of this courtesy；
it is also its cause。
That politeness should be one of the most marked results of
impersonality may appear surprising； yet a slight examination will show it
to be a fact。 Looked at a posteriori； we find that where the one trait exists
the other is most developed； while an absence of the second seems to
prevent the full growth of the first。 This is true both in general and in
detail。 Courtesy increases； as we travel eastward round the world；
coincidently with a decrease in the sense of self。 Asia is more courteous
than Europe； Europe than America。 Particular races show the same
concomitance of characteristics。 France； the most impersonal nation of
Europe； is at the same time the most polite。
Considered a priori； the connection between the two is not far to seek。
Impersonality； by lessening the interest in one's self； induces one to take an
interest in others。 Introspection tends to make of man a solitary animal；
the absence of it a social one。 The more impersonal the people； the more
will the community supplant the individual in the popular estimation。
The type becomes the interesting thing to man； as it always is to nature。
Then； as the social desires develop； politeness； being the means to their
enjoyment； develops also。
A second omission in Japanese etymology is that of gender。 That
words should be credited with sex is a verbal anthropomorphism that
would seem to a Japanese exquisitely grotesque； if so be that it did not
strike him as actually immodest。 For the absence of gender is simply
symptomatic of a much more vital failing； a disregard of sex。 Originally；
as their language bears witness； the Japanese showed a childish reluctance
to recognizing sex at all。 Usually a single sexless term was held
sufficient for a given species； and did duty collectively for both sexes。
Only where a consideration of sex thrust itself upon them； beyond the
possibility of evasion； did they employ for the male and the female
distinctive expressions。 The more intimate the relation of the object to
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