on seppuku customs said that if the rank of a seppuku performer was high, the kaishaku-nin should be dressed all in white and the haft of his sword should be covered with white cloth. In pursuance of this old advice, it became customary for the sheath and haft of the kaishaku-nin ' s sword to be white in color.
If seppuku was performed within a house or building, the kaishaku-nin tied up both legs of his hakama. If the rite was to be in a courtyard, the hakama was tied up as high as the knees.
As has been noted, the correct timing in the performance of kaishaku depended greatly on the swordsmanship of the appointed person.
It was the logical order for the kaishaku-nin to use his sword at the proper moment just after disembowelment was completed. However, it was also often the case that decapitation was performed at the moment when the condemned man merely picked up the dirk from the sambo tray.
The kaishaku-nin had to understand the mentality of the seppuku performer. If he looked like a weak-willed person, the assistant should behead him before he thrust the dirk into his abdomen. However, if a previous agreement was made for decapitation to be done at the very instant when the dirk has been drawn to the right side of the abdomen, then the kaishaku-nin should respect that last desire. Still, if the seppuku performer looked as if he were in agony although the cut was incomplete, the kaishaku-nin should act immediately. Intent scrutiny was required of him.
To allay possible criticism later, it was recommended as a good precaution for the assistant to have a word beforehand with the inspector and tell him that he might hasten or delay kaishaku according to the courage, reputation, etc., of the seppuku performer.
When a young boy was commanded to commit seppuku, it was considered merciful and proper for the kaishaku-nin to help him at the earliest moment, i.e., when he picked up the dirk from the sambo tray.
In regard to the timing of the death blow, there were three systems of classification. The first system gives three moments when kaishaku should be performed:
1. The moment when the seppuku performer stretches out his hand to pick up the dirk from the sambo tray.
2. The moment just before the seppuku performer thrusts the dirk into his abdomen.
3. The moment when the seppuku performer stabs the dirk into the left side of his abdomen.
The second system gave four proper moments:
1. The moment when the subordinate who delivered the dirk on the tray was withdrawing.
2. The moment when the seppuku performer began to draw the tray toward him.
3. The moment when the seppuku performer picks up the dirk.
4. The moment when the seppuku performer was about to stab himself.
The third system gave nine permissible moments:
1. The moment when the seppuku performer draws the sambo toward him.
2. The moment when the seppuku performer bows after picking up the dirk.
3. The moment just after he stabs himself..
4. The moment when the seppuku performer has drawn the dirk to his navel.
5. The moment when the seppuku performer has drawn the dirk to the right side of his abdomen.
6. The moment when the seppuku performer is about to make the crosswise cut.
7. The moment when the seppuku performer is halfway through the crosscut.
8. The moment when the seppuku performer completed the crosscut.
9. The moment when the seppuku performer withdraws the dirk from his abdomen and places it on his right knee.
The last example was followed in the case described when Lord Redesdale was one of the witnesses at the event.
The kaishaku-nin should be an alert watchman. Close attention to his task was a prime requirement. He had to watch constantly the eyes and feet of the seppuku performer. He could not afford to feel sympathy for the condemnedâdoing so would be contrary to the spirit of Bushido.
If the condemned man secretly planned to escape, he might involuntarily reveal his intent with his glances or by frequent shifting of his
If seppuku was performed within a house or building, the kaishaku-nin tied up both legs of his hakama. If the rite was to be in a courtyard, the hakama was tied up as high as the knees.
As has been noted, the correct timing in the performance of kaishaku depended greatly on the swordsmanship of the appointed person.
It was the logical order for the kaishaku-nin to use his sword at the proper moment just after disembowelment was completed. However, it was also often the case that decapitation was performed at the moment when the condemned man merely picked up the dirk from the sambo tray.
The kaishaku-nin had to understand the mentality of the seppuku performer. If he looked like a weak-willed person, the assistant should behead him before he thrust the dirk into his abdomen. However, if a previous agreement was made for decapitation to be done at the very instant when the dirk has been drawn to the right side of the abdomen, then the kaishaku-nin should respect that last desire. Still, if the seppuku performer looked as if he were in agony although the cut was incomplete, the kaishaku-nin should act immediately. Intent scrutiny was required of him.
To allay possible criticism later, it was recommended as a good precaution for the assistant to have a word beforehand with the inspector and tell him that he might hasten or delay kaishaku according to the courage, reputation, etc., of the seppuku performer.
When a young boy was commanded to commit seppuku, it was considered merciful and proper for the kaishaku-nin to help him at the earliest moment, i.e., when he picked up the dirk from the sambo tray.
In regard to the timing of the death blow, there were three systems of classification. The first system gives three moments when kaishaku should be performed:
1. The moment when the seppuku performer stretches out his hand to pick up the dirk from the sambo tray.
2. The moment just before the seppuku performer thrusts the dirk into his abdomen.
3. The moment when the seppuku performer stabs the dirk into the left side of his abdomen.
The second system gave four proper moments:
1. The moment when the subordinate who delivered the dirk on the tray was withdrawing.
2. The moment when the seppuku performer began to draw the tray toward him.
3. The moment when the seppuku performer picks up the dirk.
4. The moment when the seppuku performer was about to stab himself.
The third system gave nine permissible moments:
1. The moment when the seppuku performer draws the sambo toward him.
2. The moment when the seppuku performer bows after picking up the dirk.
3. The moment just after he stabs himself..
4. The moment when the seppuku performer has drawn the dirk to his navel.
5. The moment when the seppuku performer has drawn the dirk to the right side of his abdomen.
6. The moment when the seppuku performer is about to make the crosswise cut.
7. The moment when the seppuku performer is halfway through the crosscut.
8. The moment when the seppuku performer completed the crosscut.
9. The moment when the seppuku performer withdraws the dirk from his abdomen and places it on his right knee.
The last example was followed in the case described when Lord Redesdale was one of the witnesses at the event.
The kaishaku-nin should be an alert watchman. Close attention to his task was a prime requirement. He had to watch constantly the eyes and feet of the seppuku performer. He could not afford to feel sympathy for the condemnedâdoing so would be contrary to the spirit of Bushido.
If the condemned man secretly planned to escape, he might involuntarily reveal his intent with his glances or by frequent shifting of his
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