Wet Your Sword

[Raymond1000]

I watched a rerun of Shogun. Several characters committed hara-kiri. The samurai got ready to cut his hara. His the assistant prepared his sword. Before the beheading stroke, he held his katana out. Another assistant ceremoniously poured water over both sides of the blade.

Is that an authentic feature of ceremonial hara-kiri? Why did they do it? Does it have anything to do with the blade? Is it some feature of Shinto or Buddhist ceremonial? Is it the equivalent of hanging someone with a silk rope?

 

[SShepherd]

I watched a rerun of Shogun. Several characters committed hara-kiri. The samurai got ready to cut his hara. His the assistant prepared his sword. Before the beheading stroke, he held his katana out. Another assistant ceremoniously poured water over both sides of the blade.

Is that an authentic feature of ceremonial hara-kiri? Why did they do it? Does it have anything to do with the blade? Is it some feature of Shinto or Buddhist ceremonial? Is it the equivalent of hanging someone with a silk rope?

do a search for "kaishaku" or "kaishakunin", you may find your answer there.

 

[kaosblakblade]

As a "fun fact" I can mention that the daki-kubi, beheading cut, was to be made so that a flap of skin was left at the throat, tipping the head forward instead of leaving it falling to the floor. Water or sake was served in the seppuku ritual, two pourings to be taken in two sips symbolizing 4; shi, which can be read as death. I'm unfamiliar with the pouring of water on the blade for this ceremony.

 

[Blackfeather]

I've actually never come across information about this. Maybe it's a respect thing? Using a clean sword? Not sure.

 

[viper2788]

I know that in korean culture(maybe same for chinese as well), the executor would take a sip of alcohol and "blow" it on the blade before beheading the poor guy. He'd go and do this sword dance around the guy while blowing alcohol and wetting the blade. Scary dance to watch before you get beheaded

 

[Raymond1000]

do a search for "kaishaku" or "kaishakunin", you may find your answer there.

Thanks, SShepherd. The closest I’ve come so far is this mention of the practice is this: http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php/17600-Seppuku-kaishaku-and-what-not

When I learnt kaishaku for Jikiden, I was told to do it in complete silence as not to break the calmness of the seppukunin, and the cut was an act of mercy to limit the agony. Although, how the cut was executed was dictated by the "honour" of the seppukunin, and consequently where the head ended up (ie. in their lap or rolling off into the distance).

My sensei told me a few variations on how the proceedure would end. An intersting one is the completion of kaishaku. The kaishakunin would use a bamboo ladle to scoop some water and pour it over the sword, then cut the handle of the ladle. This was used as a skewer and put into the torso and then re-attach the head.

As Oroshi has said, there are many variations, with a fair amount of etiquette.

The writer—a fellow named Kuri—doesn't say why you wet the sword.

Turning the handle of the dipper into a trenail to reattach the head is unexpected.

 

[Bigfattyt]

From a "practical" standpoint, it might have something to do with making the the blade easier to clean the blood off the blood after the act.

I have often wet my kitchen knife (medium carbon) before cutting raw meat, often when I am trying to get very thin slices, and often veggies. (it cuts a bit cleaner when wet, as opposed to dry). Less sticks to the blade as well. As a bonus, wetting the blade seems to cut down on the carbon steel taste in what I am cutting (but I may be imagining this, and it has nothing to do with beheading).