I cannot think that its form and dimensions simply evidence the
Japanese fondness for "small things." The ancient Samurai pipes, of
which I have seen many fine specimens, were very much larger than the
modern _kiseru_. The pipe seems to me rather the natural evolution of
a utensil in its relation to the domestic life of Japan. The little
pipe is admirably adapted to the multifarious interruptions of Japanese
occupations. Long-sustained effort, protracted and unbroken study, are
things foreign to Japanese existence. The Western pipe is good between
the teeth of a man trained to remain on duty without remission of mental
labour or relaxation of muscle for five or six hours at a stretch. But
the Japanese idea of labour is blessed and full of interruptions as
his year is full of _matsuri_. Thus, the little pipe, with its three
conventional whiffs, exactly suits his wants. Its artistic evolution is
also a matter worthy of study. Some of the best metal-work has been done
upon it. From the pipe of 3 sen to the pipe of 30 yen, there is as great
a range of artistic design and finish as in the realm of _kakemono_.
Pipes of silver are the fashion. Without engraving, the silver must be
very heavy. If the two metal parts be elaborately engraved and inlaid,
the metal may be made as light as possible. A really fine pipe becomes
an heirloom.
The introduction of European costume among the class of officials and
teachers necessarily produced a change in the smoking paraphernalia
which formed a part of the native Japanese outfit. The _tabako-ire_
was reshaped, so as to accommodate itself to a breast or side pocket,
and the little pipe shortened so as to be enclosed without the tobacco
pouch, much as a pencil is enclosed in a pocket-book. Many beautifully
designed things thus came into existence. A nice small pipe of silver
may now be had to order for about 3 yen,--(designed). The _netsuke_ has,
of course, no place in this form of the _tabako-ire_. I have collected
over a hundred different forms of the new pipe. This has no bamboo:
the whole thing is one solid piece of metal. The best are inlaid or
engraved:--the bowl and mouthpiece (at least) being usually of silver,
worked into steel or brass.
Pipes with long stems are preferable for house use. They do not burn the
tongue so quickly as the short pipe. However, the tobacco itself has
much to do with this matter. Those jōros, geishas, and others, who
smoke the greater part of the time, use a special tobacco which does not
blister the tongue or lips.
With the pipe for an evolutionary centre, a whole intricate and complex
world of smoking-furniture has come into existence,--of which the
richest specimens are perhaps those lacquered _tabako-bon_ for the
use of aristocratic ladies, with plated or solid silver _hibachi_ and
_haifuki_. The winter _hibachi_ for smoking purposes has, of course,
many forms;--some of the daintiest being those invented for use in
theatres, to be carried in the hand. The smoker, who finds a handsome
bronze _hibachi_ placed before him on a winter's day, is not supposed to
empty his pipe into it by knocking the metal head of the pipe upon the
rim: if genteel, he will always insert the leather flap of his tobacco
pouch between the pipehead and the _hibachi_--so as to prevent the
tapping of the pipehead from causing a dent in the bronze. At present
the most genteel _tabako-bon_ for summer use has a small cup of bronze,
instead of the usual cup of porcelain. The smoker empties his pipe, not
into the _hibachi_ of bronze or porcelain, but into the bamboo _haifuki_
which is an indispensable part of the summer _tabako-bon_.
The foreigner who uses the Japanese pipe commences his experience
with that apparently simple article by burning small round holes in
everything near him--the _tatami_, the _zabuton_, and especially his
own _yukata_ or _kimono_. The small pellet of ignited tobacco contained
in the _kiseru_ becomes, after a few whiffs, a fiery pill, loose, and
ready to leap from the pipe at a breath. Wherever it falls, it pierces
holes like a red-hot shot. But the Japanese expert smoker rarely burns
anything. He draws from his pipe at the very most three whiffs and at
once empties it into the _haifuki_. To smoke a Japanese pipe to the
bottom, moreover, results in clogging up the pipe. The art of cleaning
it out afterwards is quite elaborate. A common plan is to heat the
pipehead in the charcoal of the _hibachi_, and then blow out the refuse.
But this method corrodes and spoils a fine pipe. The cleaning of the
fine pipe must be done with a twist of tough fine paper passed up the
stem and pulled out through the head.
Besides smoking-furniture, a special code of politeness has been evolved
around the Japanese pipe.
The pipe, I regret to say, is in vulgar circles used as a domestic rod.
The wife or child who is very naughty may receive a severe blow with the
_kiseru_, or even many. However, it is not so bad as the instruments of
punishment in vogue elsewhere.
I am not sure if I have been able to say anything worth your while to
read about the pipe, but I think the Japanese pipe is really worth more
consideration than is usually given it.
NOTE. Women's pipes have a special, delicate form--and are made
very small and dainty--also their _tabako-ire_.