Seppuku: Difference between revisions
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==Ritual== | ==Ritual== | ||
The practice of ''seppuku'' was not standardized until the 17th century,<ref name="WP"/> although it had been in effect since the 14th century,<ref name="DB"/> and had even been started to be used a further two centuries prior.<ref name="WP"/> By the late {{Wiki|Edo period}}, the practice became formally codified as an honorable way to be sentenced to death in the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]] or [[wikt:seignorial|seignorial]] court.<ref name="DB"/> The samurai would take their short blade,<ref>''[[Echoes of History]]'' – ''Shadows'' – Japan's First Unifier: Oda Nobunaga</ref> either the ''[[Katana and Wakizashi|wakizashi]]'' or ''[[tantō]]'' and slice into their abdomen above the navel. The samurai was often accompanied by a ''{{Wiki|kaishakunin}}'' (介錯人, lit. "assist mistake person"), a trusted attendant whom would fully decapitate the samurai.<ref name="DB"/> On occasion, the samurai would write a {{ | The practice of ''seppuku'' was not standardized until the 17th century,<ref name="WP"/> although it had been in effect since the 14th century,<ref name="DB"/> and had even been started to be used a further two centuries prior.<ref name="WP"/> By the late {{Wiki|Edo period}}, the practice became formally codified as an honorable way to be sentenced to death in the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]] or [[wikt:seignorial|seignorial]] court.<ref name="DB"/> The samurai would take their short blade,<ref>''[[Echoes of History]]'' – ''Shadows'' – Japan's First Unifier: Oda Nobunaga</ref> either the ''[[Katana and Wakizashi|wakizashi]]'' or ''[[tantō]]'' and slice into their abdomen above the navel. The samurai was often accompanied by a ''{{Wiki|kaishakunin}}'' (介錯人, lit. "assist mistake person"), a trusted attendant whom would fully decapitate the samurai.<ref name="DB"/> On occasion, the samurai would write a {{Wiki|death poem}} beforehand;<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Temple of the Horseman]]</ref> surviving records are in either 4-8 line ''{{Wiki|Kanshi (poetry)|kanshi}}'' (漢詩, "Han poetry") or 5-line ''{{Wiki|Waka (poetry)|waka}}'' (和歌, "Japanese poem") forms, with over half done in the ''waka'' form called ''{{Wiki|tanka}}'' (短歌, "short poem").<ref>{{WP|Death poem}}</ref> | ||
==Notable cases== | ==Notable cases== | ||
Latest revision as of 22:51, 17 August 2026
Seppuku (切腹, lit. 'cutting [the] belly') also called harakiri (腹切り, lit. 'abdomen/belly cutting'), is a form of ritual suicide that was practiced by samurai in Japan. It involved cutting the abdomen and was seen as a way to preserve honor, especially in the face of defeat, disgrace, or punishment. Seppuku followed a strict ceremonial process and reflected the samurai code of loyalty and courage.[1]
In the Middle Ages, warriors valued glory, courage, honor, and self-sacrifice, but these were closely tied to victory. Defeat often meant disgrace, so many preferred death over dishonor. For samurai, a glorious death—even through seppuku after a loss—was seen as a final chance to preserve their dignity and legacy.[2]
Ritual[edit | edit source]
The practice of seppuku was not standardized until the 17th century,[1] although it had been in effect since the 14th century,[2] and had even been started to be used a further two centuries prior.[1] By the late Edo period, the practice became formally codified as an honorable way to be sentenced to death in the shogunate or seignorial court.[2] The samurai would take their short blade,[3] either the wakizashi or tantō and slice into their abdomen above the navel. The samurai was often accompanied by a kaishakunin (介錯人, lit. "assist mistake person"), a trusted attendant whom would fully decapitate the samurai.[2] On occasion, the samurai would write a death poem beforehand;[4] surviving records are in either 4-8 line kanshi (漢詩, "Han poetry") or 5-line waka (和歌, "Japanese poem") forms, with over half done in the waka form called tanka (短歌, "short poem").[5]
Notable cases[edit | edit source]
 This list is incomplete. You can help the Assassin's Creed Wiki by expanding it.
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- Ōuchi Yoshitaka (1551)
- Hirate Masahide (1553)
- Azai Nagamasa (1573)
- Bessho Nagaharu (1580)
- Oda Nobunaga (1582)
- Mori Ranmaru (1582)
- Sen no Rikyū (1591)
- Toyotomi Hideyori (1615)
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Echoes of History – Shadows (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Shadows (first appearance)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
Seppuku on Wikipedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Seppuku: an Honorable End
- ↑ Echoes of History – Shadows – Japan's First Unifier: Oda Nobunaga
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Temple of the Horseman
- ↑ Death poem on Wikipedia