fan seppuku; symbolic disembowelment with a fan
Historical term for a form of seppuku where the condemned samurai performs a symbolic disembowelment using a fan instead of a real blade, followed by decapitation. Used as a death penalty for samurai.
See also: 切腹
Fan seppuku is a form of seppuku in which a fan is used instead of actually cutting the abdomen.
During the Edo period, samurai who committed crimes could be sentenced to fan seppuku.
Compound of 扇子 (sensu, 'folding fan') and 腹 (hara, 'belly'), referring to the symbolic use of a fan in place of a blade for the disembowelment act.