Bushido and Seppuku - The Code of the Samurai and Ritual Suicide

The notion of Bushido, the Way of the Warrior, likely started sometime in the 7th century in Japan. The notion of a warrior poet was conveyed in Japan's oldest current book, the Kojiki. Having said that, it was not till late in the Muromachi period (1336-1573) the term basically appeared in texts. Through this period there is an abundance of literary references to Bushido ideals.

Loyalty to ones master, filial piety, and reverence to the Emperor have been all typical ideas in early Bushido writings. These ideas clearly show the influence of Confucianism on Bushido philosophy. Samurai had been anticipated to be fair, polite, calm and usually studying to much better themselves as samurai. In the Bushido philosophy the ultimate goaled for a samurai is discovering an honorable death in battle.

Failing to abide by the Bushido code would bring dishonor upon a samurai and their family members. Occasionally a shamed samurai would be permitted to commit seppuku, or ritual suicide, by his master. Samurai who had shamed themselves would require to request permission to commit seppuku as it was regarded as an honorable death. Seppuku was also utilized by samurai as an honorable option to becoming captured by enemies.

Samurai have been normally washed and dressed in white robes in preparation for seppuku. It was also typical practice to compose a "death poem" which would almost certainly be ready in advance. The samurai would then sit down in front of a ready knife, known as a tanto. To facilitate the act a kaishakunin, or attendant always called a "second", would be present with a lengthy sword. Following the samurai plunged the tanto into the abdomen, the kaishakunin would then proceed to decapitate the dying samurai.

In the west the term "hari kari" is normally mistakenly applied to describe seppuku. This term originates from the Japanese word, "harakiri" which actually translates to "stomach reduce". It is a reverse of the kanji characters made use of in seppuku (lit. reduce stomach). Seppuku is thought of a lot more formal and is usually utilised in writing although harakiri (not hari kari) is employed in speech.

Alton Trevino lives in Japan and enjoys writing about Japanese history and culture. Please pay a visit to the Right after pages to find out extra about feudal Japan and ancient Japan.

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