also: せんぷく · せんばら
child from a previous wife
Refers to a child born to a man's earlier wife, in contrast to children from a later marriage. Often used in historical or family contexts.
See also: 後腹 (あとばら)
preceding one's master in death by seppuku
Only with reading さきばら
Historical term for a retainer committing ritual suicide before or upon the death of their lord, as an act of loyalty. Contrasts with 追い腹 (oibara), where the retainer follows the master in death.
See also: 追い腹
He is a child from his father's earlier wife, and there is a big age gap with his younger half-brother from the later wife.
To demonstrate loyalty, the retainer committed seppuku before his lord's death.
Standard kanji spelling for both senses. Reading さきばら is the most common modern reading.
Alternate reading, less common. May be encountered in historical texts.
Obsolete kana usage; not used in modern Japanese.
Compound of 先 (saki, 'before, previous') and 腹 (hara, 'belly'). The 'child from earlier wife' sense uses 腹 metaphorically for 'offspring'. The 'seppuku' sense uses 腹 literally, referring to cutting the belly.