By Jack Seward
Hari-Kiri is a definitive textual content on eastern ritual suicide, sometimes called seppuku.
To the common westerner, the notice hara-kiri inspires a picture of excruciating, self-inflicted soreness; of a deep, deadly incision. To the japanese, this sort of suicide embodies the easiest traits of braveness, honor, and discipline.
Through broad study, writer Jack Seward brings to the English-speaking public a dissertation at the topic that's completely enlightening. Fluent in talking, analyzing, and writing eastern, he was once capable of glean details from old files a lot of them scrolls within the eastern records that few foreigners have obvious. The earliest writings on hara-kiri (known extra officially as seppuku) are hence printed, as are the tricky rituals surrounding the ceremony.
"The significant goal of this book," says the writer, "is to explain the old and sociological importance of a special approach to self-destruction." In enjoyable this goal, writer Seward has get a hold of a definitive paintings that's guaranteed to arouse curiosity either as a scholarly attempt and as easy, interesting studying.
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Extra info for Hara-Kiri: Japanese Ritual Suicide
Example text
Sake (rice wine) was served to the left, or contrary to the normal order. The small cup, called a choku, should be filled to the brim in two pourings, so as to avoid the meaning of repetition implied by the number three. Symbolism permeated the banquet from beginning to end. Similar topics of conversation were not to be brought up twice. The chopsticks used at this dinner were made of CUSTOMS & FORMALITIES 55 anise wood or bamboo, the former being used exclusively for funeral dinners. Thus, the doomed person was made to feel that he was already, in a sense, being mourned.
Permanent removal of the name of the offender from the roll of the samurai. 5. Seppuku Why the Abdomen Was Chosen The word hara or abdomen has a common root with the word hari which means tension. Ancient Japanese associated tension in the abdomen with the soul. The abdomen is the place where the soul resides; the more vital the action, the greater the tension. At the same time, it is the physical center of the body; hence they were led to look upon the abdomen as the cradle of one's will, thought, generosity, boldness, spirit, anger, enmity, etc.
Kinds of Seppuku There are several classifications of seppuku, based on the motive for the act, its method of execution, and the degree of severity of the offense. For example, when the act of seppuku was motivated by a sense of loyalty to the daimyo or lord, it was called chugi-bara. Chugi means loyalty and bara is a contraction of hara-kiri (pronunciation of the word hara often changes in a compound). Chugi-bara included both self-immolation on the death of one's master (junshi) and for the purpose of remonstration {kanshi).
