Citation

Biotti-Mache F. Etudes sur la Mort 2011; 140(2): 113-122.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011)

DOI

10.3917/eslm.140.0113

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

With its origins in Chinese legends relating to women and dating back some 2000 years, honourable suicide seems always to have been common practice in Japan. It was only in the 12th century, during the feudal period of Japanese history and the rise and ultimate domination of the warrior caste, that what is traditionally referred to as 'seppuku' or the warrior's suicide appears. In its codified, ritualized form, it became a mainstay of the samurai code, an expression of their ethics and the crowning achievement of their public and social life. While some forms of seppuku were made illegal, from Minamoto to Mishima, ritual suicide has continued to be performed, with the almost unanimous approval of Japanese society. It is still regarded with nostalgia today, even if seppuku is disappearing from social mores. Japanese art forms have borne witness to it for centuries, and the latest video games still exalt the glory of the samurais and the practice of seppuku. © L'Esprit du temps.

Language: fr

Keywords

Suicide; Japan; Society; Ritual; Samurai