Bushido History

Seppuku

During battle, the only way out for a defeated samurai was death or ritual suicide: seppuku.  Seppuku or hara-kiri (belly slicing), is when a samurai stabs a knife into his abdomen and literally disembowels himself by cutting out his guts. After the Samarai disembowels himself, another samurai, usually a kinsman or friend,  slices his head off. This form of suicide was "performed under various circumstances: to avoid capture in battle, which the samurai did not believe to be dishonorable and degrading, but generally bad policy; to atone for a misdeed or unworthy act; and perhaps most interestingly, to admonish one's lord".  A samurai would rather kill himself than bring shame and disgrace to his family name and his lord. This was considered an act of true honor.