[setsu nin to]

article on Seppuku

BLACK PANTA
Seppuku - Ritual Suicide
Seppuku, (Sape-puu-kuu) the Japanese formal language term for ritual suicide (Hara-kiri (Har-rah-kee-ree) is the common language term.), was an intregal aspect of feudal Japan (1192-186. It developed as an intregal part of the code of bushido and the discipline of the samurai warrior class.
Hara-kiri, which literally means "stomach cutting" is a particularly painful method of self-destruction, and prior to the emergence of the samurai as a professional warrior class, was totally foreign to the Japanese.
The early history of Japan reveals quite clearly that the Japanese were far more interested in living the good life than in dying a painful death. It was not until well after the introduction of Buddhism, with its theme of the transitory nature of life and the glory of death, that such a development became possible.
To the samurai, seppuku--whether ordered as punishment or chosen in preference to a dishonorable death at the hands of an enemy--was unquestionable demonstration of their honor, courage, loyalty, and moral character.
When samurai were on the battlefield, they often carried out acts of hara-kiri rapidly and with very little formal preparation. But on the other occasions, particularly when it was ordered by a feudal lord, or the shogun (as was directed of Lord Asano in the Tale of the 47 Ronin. ) , seppuku or hara-kiri was a very formal ceremony, requiring certain etiquette, witnesses and considerable preparation.
Not all Japanese samurai or lords believed in, even though many of them followed the custom. The great Ieyasu Tokugawa, who founded Japan's last great Shogunate dynasty in 1603, eventually issued an edict forbidding hara-kiri to both secondary and primary retainers.
The custom was so deeply entrenched, however, that it continued, and in 1663, at the urging of Lord Nobutsuna Matsudaira of Izu, the shogunate government issued another, stronger edict, prohibiting ritual suicide. This was followed up by very stern punishment for any lord who allowed any of his followers to commit harakiri or seppuku. Still the practice continued throughout the long Tokugawa reign, but it declined considerably as time went by.
Honor for the samurai was dearer than life and in many cases, self destruction was regarded not simply as right, but as the only right course. Disgrace and defeat were atoned by committing hara-kiri or seppuku. Upon the death of a daimyo loyal followers might show their grief and affection for their master by it. Other reasons a samurai committed seppuku were: to show contempt for an enemy; to protest against injustice, as a means to get their lord to reconsider an unwise or unworthy action and as a means to save others.
The ritual for disenbowlment was to be performed calmly and without flinching. If condemned to death, it was held to be a privilege to execute the sentence on one's own body rather than to be a disgrace and die at the hands of the public headsman.

The location of an officially ordered seppuku ceremony was very important. Often the ritual was performed at temple
(but not Shinto shrines), in the garden or villas, and inside homes. The size of the area available was also important, as it was prescribed precisely for samurai of high rank.
All the matters relating to the act was carefully prescribed and carried out in the most meticulous manner. The most conspicuous participant, other than the victim, was the kaishaku (kie-shah-kuu), or assistant, who was responsible for cutting off the victim's head after he had sliced his abdomen open. The was generally a close friend or associate of the condemned.
Although suicide is deplored in Japan today, it does not have the sinful overtones that are common in the west. People still kill themselves for failed businesses, involvement in love triangles, or even failing school examinations, death is still consider by many as better than dishonor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RoninMMA
I read somewhere that some samurai were unable to undergo the pain of seppuku. So sometimes the ritual took place with another person standing behind. They were to cut off that persons head if they were unable to ignore the pain of hara-kiri. I know what you mean about suicide not having the sinful views that the west has. When I was a kid living on Oahu in Hawaii, there was this Japanese couple that lived two doors down. I guess the husband was having an affair. So the wife decided to drench herself in gasoline and light herself on fire, inside the house. I remember coming home from school and seeing news cameras, police, firetrucks, and everything else. I know it's kinda bad to say this, but at the time I was just a kid. I sat out on my porch and thought everything was pretty cool. I never got to see a big ass house(they were a really rich family) burn down before.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DeStRuCtIkOn
quote:

Originally posted by RoninMMA
I read somewhere that some samurai were unable to undergo the pain of seppuku. So sometimes the ritual took place with another person standing behind. They were to cut off that persons head if they were unable to ignore the pain of hara-kiri.



The idea here was that if the person committing suicide showed pain or whatever else might happen when slicing out your entrails, a friend would sever the neck so that onlookers would not be offended and the person would retain honor. Furthermore, the cut was not meant to go entirely through the neck, just far enough to kill instantly. It would be just as offensive or dishonorable to have somebody's head rolling about.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RoninMMA
Oh ok that makes more sense then cutting off someones head. I was always under the impression that they cut the head off. Thanks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
BLACK PANTA

Just to add...

Hara-kiri is more used term for Seppuku by American and European people and its not so popular in Japan. In Japan Hara-kiri is unpolite name for Seppuku.
Thats why there is not Hara-kiri-to, while there is Seppuku-to.

Hara-kiri come from hara we could translate as abdomen (hara is few inchs under navel) and kiri which mean to cut .
Seppuku is much older term and it come from setsu which mean to cut (from Middle Chinese tshet) and fuku which mean abdomain (from Middle Chinese fuwk).

Inazio Nitobe gave us exelent example of "Seppuku" in European cultur... Also he gave us examples of Seppuku and how all ritual was done.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
RoninMMA

Kaishaku cut Samurais head off. he would do that becouse of two reasons. First to make end of Samurais suffer (belive me it was painful) and second to help Samurai to not show any pain. If Samurai showed the pain than it was not Seppuku any more. There are strict rules about Seppuku and they are not allowed to show pain. If they showed pain of fall back or... that they would lost honour.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FHATODude
quote:

Originally posted by DeStRuCtIkOn
The idea here was that if the person committing suicide showed pain or whatever else might happen when slicing out your entrails, a friend would sever the neck so that onlookers would not be offended and the person would retain honor. Furthermore, the cut was not meant to go entirely through the neck, just far enough to kill instantly. It would be just as offensive or dishonorable to have somebody's head rolling about.



One of my frinds in Kendo noticed that "head rolling" error while watching The Last Samurai haha.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
FHATODude

It depende. If Samurai had to made Seppuku to keep honour then they wouldnt cut his head off (they left few cm of his neck), but if he had to do Seppuku to take back his honour then they would cut his head off.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bamboo

quote:

Furthermore, the cut was not meant to go entirely through the neck, just far enough to kill instantly. It would be just as offensive or dishonorable to have somebody's head rolling about.



Good point Des,
The "second" or assistant would cut just enough to allow a flap of skin to gently guide the head into a basket in front of the recently deceased.


Another little point about the terms Hara Kiri and Seppuku. The kanji used to write Hara-kiri are exactly the same as the ones used to write seppuku, they are simply inversed to be read as less vulgar seppuku then the more graphic and offensive hara-kiri.

Great threads Panta!

-bamboo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
bamboo

If Samurai had to make Seppuku to keep honour his head wouldnt be cutted off.
For example if he was captured in war, he had abbility to died honourible, so he could make Seppuku, or if his maser died. So he didnt lost honour, he just get chance to die in honour way. Than his head wouldnt be cutted of. Kaishaku cutted his neck, but he didnt cuted his head of.

If Samurai had to do Seppuku to take back his honour than his head was cutted off.
For example if Samurai faild in mission or if he do something wrong and his master decide that he had to made Seppuku his head was cutted off. If Kaishaku cut his head so that head was roling on the ground he would probably become second on Seppuku list or if he wasnt Samurai he would be killed.
As I said in Bushido you have rules for almoust everything so you have rules how Kaishaku have to cut head too.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bamboo

quote:

As I said in Bushido you have rules for almoust everything so you have rules how Kaishaku have to cut head too.



Good point Setsu, rules for everything! From what I understand, the position of Kaishakunin would have only been performed at official ceremonies by the most able of swordsmen. Those serving nobility or shogun would have trained everyday as to how to properly cut the neck but not quite sever the head. Kaishukunin was a position within the government and a coveted one at that. I'm not saying that all that served as second would have an official positition as kaishaku, but it was an honoured duty and not taken lightly.

The position of Kaishaku was so illustrious that even modern day manga or Japanese art comics and movies have been made of fictitional Kaishakunin. One example is the very famous "Okami Kazure" or "Lone Wolf and Cub"'. That manga series alone was made into a series of 6 Japanese films, a t.v. series and a horrendous amercain film called "shogun's executioner". (This film was edited from the original 6 japanese films and changed every part of the story line and the characters).

-bamboo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
bamboo

When Samurai had to make Seppuku he would choose Kaishaku. Moust often it would be best friend or someone from family. Ofcourse Kaishaku had to know how to use sword. If Kaishaku do something wrong preforming rytual of Seppuku than he lost honour not Samurai and if Kaishaku. It wasnt hard for Kaishaku to cut Samurais neck in right way. Cutting with sword was practiced every day. Samurais practiced to cut (and tested swords) on dead bodyes of anymals and humans, sometimes on convicts who were sentence to death...
They made all art from cutting (and form what they didnt make art?). They even had name for every variation of cuttung.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BLACK PANTA
Just a side note Tsuifuku (suicide of a retainer when his master dies), another form of Seppuku i believe was outlawed in and around 1700. I remember reading this from Hagakure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bamboo
Panta

This form of seppuku is also called junshi, if you take a quick scan of the original samurai/ninja thread you can get alot more in depth information such as exact dates and people implementing and breaking the law.



-bamboo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
BLACK PANTA

You read about Oibaru. Oibaru is form of Seppuku which Samurais made after death of their Master. With Oibaru rytual Samurais followed thier Master in death.
Oibaru was Seppuku so its correct to use term Seppuku insead of Oibaru. if you say that Samurai made Seppuku after death of master its same correct as you said that he commited Oibaru.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
bamboo

Junshi was diferent from Seppuku. Same as Oibaru, Junshi was made after death of master. Junshi means dying with the master and its wariation of self immolation. Junishi as self immolation lived very short, just for some 50 or 60 years.
Also Junishi as term was used for ritual self hurting which was made after death of master.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bamboo
Setsu :

If junshi is following your master in death, and oiburu is following your master in death, are they not the same thing? I understand the act of self mutilation is not seppuku but that was not what I was referring to.

I am not clear how one is different from the other if both acts of suicide where committed out of loyalty to ones retainer. Now I do understand that one could follow ones master in death using a form other than traditional centre cutting, (such as drowning, impaling oneself on a spear...etc) that of course would not be seppuku, but if was the act of seppuku, why are they not the same?

-bamboo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
bamboo

Oibaru is Seppuku. Seppuku is more general term. Seppuku which Samurai had made after death of his Master is Oibaru.

Junshi was difrernt rytual with same result - death of Samurai. Same sa Oibaru junshi was made after death of master.
There are diferents in rytual and time. For example Samurai had to made Junshi on day of Masters death and Oibaru he could do later (if he had to revenged death of Master or something like that).
Also Junshi was used for just 50/60 years and later it become rytual self hurting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bamboo
Setsu

Thanks very much for this information, its nice to clear things up in a civil manner without petty arguments or flaming.

take care,

bamboo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bamboo
Setsu

I did a little more research into the nature of junshi and found some very interesting examples. One being a noble woman drowning herself in what is now known as the "bell pond" in Japan. Apparantly she was crushed and drowned under the weight of a giant bell. Other examples would like the general and his wife that killed themselves upon the death of the emperor, or samurai driving swords through thier heads.

Again thanks for the clarifacation.

-bamboo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
bamboo

I heard fo that example whit woman who take here life. I also have one big discousion with some people about it (not here on the forum). We discoused was that Junshi or not, becouse she was women. Seppuku, Oibaru and Junshi were rituals which were done by Samurais or Ronins and she wasnt Samurai or Ronin.

Whel there are many examples of Seppuku which was done by people who were not Samurais/Ronins.

Also terms Seppuku, Oibaru and Junshi were and still are used in diferent way by diferent people. So if you look back in history you may finde example when term Junshi was used for Seppuku which wasnt comited becouse of dearh of Master.

Also its interesting how ritual od Seppuku was had many rules, but main point was to take your life. When someone who was doing Seppuku didnt have time for all ritual he had just to take his life.
There is exelent example of general Tojo who comited Seppuku widouth 99% of ritual. He didnt had Kaishaku he didnt even had Seppuku-to!!! When Americans come to his house to capture him he take gun and shoot himself in stomac.
In one way ritual of Seppuku have strict rules, but if you are not able to go by rules you may improvise.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bamboo
Setsu:

No ritual but he did cut his centre, although it was with a bullet!

As an aside, have you ever read the book The Code of the Samurai by Daidoji Yuzan and translated into english by A.L. Sadler (also called Budo Shoshinshu in Japanese, or Beginners Bushido when first published)?

If not I would recomend it as it adds a slightly modern perspective (well, up to 1944 if you consider that modern) and really interesting read.

-bamboo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

setsu nin to
bamboo

I know for Yuzan Daidojis book "The Code of the Samurai" I read it long time ago. Good book.


No ritual but he did cut his centre, although it was with a bullet!

No ritual, no Kaishaku, not even Seppuku-to.
American soldiers were in his yard so he didnt have time for any ritual, or to finde Kaishaku or to use Seppuku-to. He have time just to take his gun and shoot himself. American soldiers finde him in blood and take him to hospital, they needed him alive becouse of trial. General Tojo survived and that was big shame for him. To save his honour he decide to live and save emperor on trial. When trial come general Tojo said that he is guilti for everything they tryed to accuse emperor. General Tojo was send to death and he saved emperor.
Also general Tojo is very interesting becouse he published something like Bushido cedex for Japanese soldiers in WWII.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------