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.
江戸時代、罪を犯した武士は扇子腹を命じられることがあった。
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.