diagonal slash from the shoulder
A sword technique where the cut is delivered diagonally from the shoulder across the body, named after the similar line of a Buddhist surplice (袈裟). Used in historical or martial arts contexts.
侍は袈裟斬りで敵を倒した。
The samurai felled his enemy with a diagonal slash from the shoulder.
剣
We practice the form of the diagonal shoulder cut in kendo training.
Standard kanji spelling using 斬り (cutting with a blade).
Variant using 切り, a more general kanji for cutting.
From 袈裟 (kesa, a Buddhist surplice worn diagonally across the body) + 斬り (kiri, cutting with a sword), referring to the diagonal line of the cut resembling the surplice.