When they were all seated in a row for final dispatch, Sakon turned to the youngest and said- “Go thou first, for I wish to be sure that thou doest it right.” Upon the little one’s replying that, as he had never seen seppuku (disembowelment) performed, he would like to see his brothers do it, and then he could follow them. The older brothers smiled between their tears:-“Well said, little fellow. So canst thou well boast of being our father’s child.” When they had placed him between them, Sakon thrust the dagger into the left side of his abdomen and said-“Look, brother! Dost thou understand now? Only, don't push the dagger too far, lest thou fall back. Lean forward, rather, and keep thy knees well composed.” Naiki did likewise and said to the boy-“Keep thine eyes open, or else thou mayst look like a dying woman. If thy dagger feels anything within and thy strength fails, take courage and double thine effort to cut across.” The child looked from one to the other, and when both had expired, he calmly half-denuded himself and followed the example set him on either side.
From Dr. Inazo Nitobe’s Bushido, The Soul of Japan
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