light blue samurai costume worn for ritual suicide
Historical term for a specific light blue kamishimo (裃) ensemble traditionally donned by samurai when performing seppuku. Rarely encountered outside historical or literary contexts.
In period dramas, a samurai wearing a light blue kamishimo appears when it's time for seppuku.
裃 is the general term for the samurai formal attire consisting of kataginu and hakama. 水上下 specifically refers to the light blue variant associated with seppuku.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical costume term.
Alternate kanji spelling using 裃 (kamishimo). Less common than 水上下.
Compound of 水 (mizu, 'water') and 上下 (kamishimo, 'samurai formal attire'), referring to the light blue color reminiscent of water. The exact historical origin of the color association is uncertain.