In 1868 an English gentleman, Lord Redesdale, acting secretary of the British Consulate in Japan, had the opportunity to attend at the invitation and as a witness, as in fact involved as a representative of the British the ceremony of seppuku, ritual suicide of the noble Samurai and Japanese.
In February 1868 the case that a group of Japanese soldiers, orders Zenzaburo Taki, a Samurai in the service of the Prince of Bizen, shot against a camp of strangers, of mixed nationalities. In those years, going on foreign soil that interfere in disputes between the Japanese shogun (supreme head of the army) and the Emperor of Japan. For unclear circumstances Taki Zenzaburo ordered to fire on the group of foreigners causing the death of some. This happened near the city of Kobe (then called Hiogo). He was therefore ordered to Seppuku.
Lord Redesdale was the first foreigner ever to attend a ritual suicide and recounts the episode in his book "Tales from Japan".
I carry the main points:
Preparations
As a witness to a ceremony Hara Kiri (Seppuku to define the popular term), we can describe the performance. The convicted person was Taki-Zenzaburo, an officer of the Samurai Daimyo (prince) of Bizen. The Samurai was ordered held responsible for the slaughter against a foreign camp in February 1868.
The ceremony, ordered by the Mikado himself, took place at 22.30 in the Temple of Seifukuji in the army headquarters in Hiogo of Satsuma (now Kobe).
Each foreign delegation was represented by an alien for a total of seven foreign witnesses. Samurai were accompanied by the Princess of Satsuma and Choshu. The ceremony took place in private. At the gates of the Temple, however, is crowded a large crowd.
The courtyard of the Temple was very picturesque, many soldiers stationed inside around big fires that lit the caves located in the holy place.
We were placed in a room where be waiting for along with senior Japanese officials.
After a long period of time, made even longer by the silence that reigned, came-Shunsuke Ito, Hiogo deputy governor, who took our names and informed us that they would present seven Samurai "Kenshi" (Japanese inspectors from the body), an amount equal to the foreign witnesses.
The vice-governor Shunsuke Ito then asked if anyone would like any questions you wish to pay, but no request made. After another long wait we were invited to follow in the main hall Kenshi "Hondo" of the Temple, where the ceremony would take place.
was a large room with wooden pillars and a high ceiling in wood, with large golden lamps, on the one hand was placed an altar with the floor covered with beautiful white carpets, while the altar was covered with a red felt. Many candles were placed in the room and shed a dim light, just enough to illuminate the environment. The seven Kenshi settled to the left of the steps of the altar, the foreign witnesses on the right. There were no other persons as witnesses or spectators.
Foreplay
few minutes later came a vigorous man of about 32 years old, noble-looking, covered by a great white coat, I knew it was used only for special occasions. This was the Taki-Zenzaburo Samurai, the condemned man.
He was accompanied by a "Kaishaku" and three Samurai clothing War in dresses, cloth gilt.
The "kaishaku" should not be considered as the Executioner Europe. He was charged with cutting off the head of the condemned immediately after cutting the abdomen. He was considered a great honor to be required for that function, and many times more expensive than it was the friend of the convicted person or a relative.
Kaishaku In this case, was a pupil of Taki-Zenzaburo, who was chosen by friends of the convicted for his skill and precision in the use of the sword.
Taki-Zenzaburo, with Kaishaku to his left, he turned towards the Japanese witnesses with a respectful bow and solemn sitting, the Kenshi responded with a solemn bow, then turned to us and greeted us in the same way.
Slowly the prisoner ascended the steps before the altar and bowed twice, clapped his hands folded three times and bowed, then turned and made a goodbye to us. The Kaishaku was left behind the noble-Taki Zenzaburo.
One of the three dressed in Samurai warfare advanced placing a pillow in front of the gold used to pay the big deals, over the pillow rested a short sword called Wakizashi (companion sword), sharp as a razor.
This sword was delivered with many bows and accepted by the convicted person with great respect, that led to the front bowing several times, then put it down to the ground before him.
declaration
At this point Zenzaburo Taki-spoke, his voice betraying some emotion as indeed one would expect given the situation, but nothing on the outer appearance is not apparent in the state of 'mood.
"I and I alone, I gave the order without having the power to fire on foreigners in Kobe, as they tried to escape. For this horrendous crime I kill you, and please let me the honor of being present as witnesses "
Then he bowed deeply to the witnesses and took off part of his remaining clothes, shirtless, to the wall, and using the clothes ripiengandoli removed carefully and placed them under its own knees so that, thus, could not fall back as a Samurai should always fall forward. Then, deliberately, with the steady hand he took the short sword that had placed before him. He looked at her long, almost fondly, as if to set their own thoughts for the last time.
Seppuku
then sticks his sword in his left side, pulling then up toward the right side. During this operation, certainly very painful, the warrior's face betrayed no sign of pain.
while extracting the sword from his belly leaned forward and stretched out her neck. For the first time I noticed he had a look of pain but did not issue any complaint.
Kaishaku At that moment, that was up to her knees, stood up abruptly, raised his long sword above his head, then severe blow with his head separated from the body blow with equity.
"in which other part of the world teaches us that the last tribute of affection that can make the best friend is to be the executor of his death? "
Kaishaku The Samurai and all present and then bowed. Then the Kaishaku put his sword on a large sheet of paper and handed it to one of the Samurai because these were carried away in a solemn manner and were shown to the crowd as proof of execution.
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