Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Seppuku (wiktionary:切腹, from
the kanji "cut" and "stomach") is a Japanese word that means
ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku is better known in
English as hara-kiri (wiktionary:腹切り, literally "cutting the
stomach", written with the same kanji as seppuku but in reverse
order), which is considered the more vulgar term in Japanese.
Seppuku was a key part of bushido, the code of the samurai
warriors; it was used by warriors to avoid falling into enemy
hands, and to attenuate shame. Samurai could also be ordered by
their daimyo (feudal lords) to commit seppuku. In later years,
disgraced warriors were sometimes allowed to commit seppuku
rather than be executed in the normal manner. Given enough time,
committing seppuku involved a detailed ritual. Dressed
ceremonially, with his sword placed in front of him and
sometimes seated on special cloths, the warrior would prepare
for death by writing a death poem. With his selected attendant
(kaishakunin , his second) standing by, he