Hara-Kiri: Japanese Ritual Suicide by Jack Seward PDF

By Jack Seward
ISBN-10: 1462907628
ISBN-13: 9781462907625
Hari-Kiri is a definitive textual content on eastern ritual suicide, sometimes called seppuku.
To the common westerner, the observe hara-kiri evokes a picture of excruciating, self-inflicted soreness; of a deep, deadly incision. To the japanese, this sort of suicide embodies the easiest characteristics of braveness, honor, and discipline.
Through wide examine, writer Jack Seward brings to the English-speaking public a dissertation at the topic that's completely enlightening. Fluent in conversing, interpreting, and writing eastern, he used to be in a position to glean details from historic records lots of them scrolls within the eastern files that few foreigners have visible. The earliest writings on hara-kiri (known extra officially as seppuku) are hence published, as are the complicated rituals surrounding the ceremony.
"The significant goal of this book," says the writer, "is to elucidate the historic and sociological value of a different approach to self-destruction." In satisfying this goal, writer Seward has get a hold of a definitive paintings that's guaranteed to arouse curiosity either as a scholarly attempt and as uncomplicated, interesting studying.