kaishakunin
Sign in to saveAlso known as kaishaku
thumb|right|250px|A staged photo from the late Edo period of a [[seppuku ceremony. The kaishakunin is standing at the rear with his sword raised and prepared to partially sever the head, cutting through the spinal column, of the person performing seppuku.]] A kaishakunin (, ) is a man appointed to behead an individual who has performed seppuku, Japanese ritual suicide, at the moment of agony. The role played by the kaishakunin is called kaishaku.
~5 min read
Article
4 sectionsContents
- Ritual
- Role as executioner
- See also
- References
thumb|right|250px|A staged photo from the late Edo period of a [[seppuku ceremony. The kaishakunin is standing at the rear with his sword raised and prepared to partially sever the head, cutting through the spinal column, of the person performing seppuku.]] A kaishakunin (, ) is a man appointed to behead an individual who has performed seppuku, Japanese ritual suicide, at the moment of agony. The role played by the kaishakunin is called kaishaku.
This approach spares the condemned person from prolonged pain before death. It also prevents observers from witnessing a distressing and prolonged dying process.