photo #2412058

Tsujigiri and Kirisute-gomenTsujigiri originally referred to traditional duels between warriors, and later, during the Sengoku period, became associated with the indiscriminate cutting down of people. Those partaking in the practice were also known as Tsujigiri.There are stories of samurai having received or purchased a new sword, or having learned or even developed a new fighting style, to have tested the weapon or skill in real life, by attacking a passer-by at random. The target could be either a commoner, or in the case of a test of skill, a fellow samurai. The practice was known as Tsujigiri, or literally “Crossroads Killing”, and was usually performed undercover of darkness.The Tokugawa shogun banned the practice in 1602, on the penalty of death.Kirisute-gomen was a right allowing samurai to strike down commoners, or those below their rank, who had insulted them, their honor or their position in any way, and to leave the body where it lay, without fear of indemnity or punishment.The rules of practice demanded that the right be effected immediately upon the offence, and not against past offences. It should also be a single cut. Should the strike fail to instantly kill the opposition, a secondary cut, or coup de grace was not permitted. It also allowed lesser ranked samurai the right to defend themselves against such an attack from their superiors, but only with their wakizashi, short sword, and not their main katana or tachi.