Editing Seppuku

{{refimprove}}
'''''Seppuku''''' is a form of ritual suicide by disembowelment and a key element of ''[[bushido]]'' whereby a dishonored individual may attempt to regain some of their lost honor to committing suicide. Also called ''hara-kiri'', ''seppuku'' is the preferred term. 

[[File:Seppuku.jpg|right|thumb|Seppuku Ceremony]]

==Ritual==
The ritual involved in ''seppuku'' is long and detailed. First, the individual is bathed and dressed in a white kimono. They are provided a favorite meal and following their repast are allowed time to compose a death poem. 

At this time, the ''tanto'', or knife, is presented. The individual opens their kimono and plunges the ''tanto'' into their bellies, making a left to right cut. At this moment, the individual's second, or ''kaishakunin'' who has been standing nearby with a ''katana'', nearly severs the individual's head to prevent any pain from showing on the face, thereby preventing loss of honor and face. 

Because of the requirement to leave just a small amount of flesh attaching the head to the body, only the most skilled swordsmen were selected as ''kaishakunin''. It is both an honor and a concern to be selected as ''kaishakunin''. The honor comes from being respected highly enough by the individual to perform the duty properly. But even if the duty is performed well, no honor is to be gained through the action, while immeasurable honor can be lost if it is performed badly.

In situations where a second is not available, the person committing ''seppuku'' is expected to make a second cut, from right-to-left. They are expected to bear their pain and suffering quietly while they perish from blood loss. This form of ''seppuku'' is called ''jūmonji-giri''.

==Goal==
''Seppuku'' is Japanese in origin and was widely used within the [[Draconis Combine]] to allow unsuccessful military commanders a chance to redeem themselves. As dishonor to one resulted in dishonor to the family, ''seppuku'' was a way of protecting the family of the dishonored.

Committing the act normally required the permission of a commanding officer or, for the highest military ranks, the [[Coordinator]] himself. It was also occasionally used as a punishment for failure in duty and commanders could order their subordinates to commit ''seppuku''.

==Notable Events==
* One famous refusal was that of [[Yorinaga Kurita]]. Having failed to kill [[Morgan Kell]] in a duel, he asked then-Coordinator [[Takashi Kurita]] for permission to commit ''seppuku''. The request was refused and Yorinaga went into exile at a monastery. Every year following, he made the same request and Takashi continued to refuse until [[3025]] when he granted the request, provided that Yorinaga create the elite ''[[Genyosha]]''.<ref>''Warrior: En Garde'', ch. 16</ref>
* [[Minobu Tetsuhara]], ordered to destroy [[Wolf's Dragoons]] and thus caught between friendship and duty, felt he had failed his Coordinator when his forces were defeated by the Dragoons on [[Misery]] and he himself was captured following the destruction of his [[BattleMech]]. He decided that ''seppuku'' was the only way to atone for his failures. [[Jaime Wolf]] could not dissuade his friend and finally allowed the ceremony to take place, even serving as Minobu's ''kaishakunin'' (with a laser pistol) as a stand-in for Minobu's aide [[Michi Noketsuna]] who was prevented by injuries.<ref>''Wolves on the Border'', ch. 56</ref>
* [[Tomoe Sakade]], wife of [[Theodore Kurita]], committed ''seppuku'' after failing to stop the [[Clan Ghost Bear]] invasion during the [[Combine-Ghost Bear War]].<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 104</ref>
* [[Takashi Kurita]]  realized that Indrahar had been right. With no other means to avoid the duel with [[Jaime Wolf]] honorably, he committed ''seppuku'' with Theodore standing as his second. (Officially, however, Takashi Kurita was reported to have died in his sleep.) <ref name=WP>''Wolf Pack''</ref>

==External Links==
* [[w:Seppuku|''Seppuku'' article on Wikipedia]]

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Coupé]]''
* ''[[Warrior: En Garde]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Riposte]]''
* ''[[Wolf Pack]]''
* ''[[Wolves on the Border]]''

[[Category:Inner Sphere Culture]]