The code of the
Shinsengumi
Regulations was
most likely to
have been
written by
Hijikata Toshizō.
The code
included five
articles,
prohibiting the
following:
1.
Deviating
from the
samurai code
"bushido"
2.
Leaving the
Shinsengumi
3. Raising money
privately
4.
Taking part
in others'
litigation
5. Engaging in
private fights
The penalty for
breaking any
rule was
"seppuku"
(suicide by
cutting one's
own abdomen with a
knife).
In
addition, the
Shinsengumi had
these
regulations:
1.
If the
leader of a
unit is
mortally
wounded in a
fight, all
the members
of the unit
must fight
and die on
the spot.
2.
Even in a
fight where
the death
toll is
high, it is
not allowed
to retrieve
the bodies
of the dead,
except the
corpse of
the leader
of the unit.
The most
prominent of
which is this:
"If a
Shinsengumi
member engages
in a fight with
a stranger, be
it on duty or
not, if he is
wounded and
can't kill the
enemy allowing
him to run away
even in case of
a wound in the
back, 'seppuku' is
ordered."
Hijikata
forced them to
follow extremely
strict rules to
make the group
reflect "bushido" ideals and to
create fear
within the group
so that they
would absolutely
obey the orders
of Hijikata and
Kondo. These
rules are a
major reason why
they rose to be
such a strong,
feared force
consisting of
hundreds of
expert
swordsmen, each
endowed with
official
sanction and an
unflinching
readiness to
kill.
Quite a few
members were
forced to commit
seppuku for
breaking the
rules or were
killed for being
spies.
Shinsengumi Uniforms
The members of
the Shinsengumi
were highly
visible in
battle due to
their
distinctive
uniforms.
Following the
orders of
Shinsengumi
captain
Serizawa Kamo,
the standard
uniform
consisted of the
"haori" and
"hakama" over
a
kimono with
a white cord
called a "tasuki"
crossed over the
chest and tied
in the back. The
function of the
"tasuki" is to
prevent the
sleeves of the
kimono from
interfering with
moving the arms.
The uniqueness
of the uniform
was most evident
in the "haori"
which was
colored "asagiiro"
(浅葱色, generally
light blue, but
can also be
light yellow).
The "haori"
sleeves were
trimmed with
"white mountain
stripes" resulting in a
very flashy
outfit quite
unlike the usual
browns, blacks,
and grays found
in warrior
clothing. In the
midst of a
fight the
uniforms of the
Shinsengumi
provided not
only a means of
easy
identification,
but also a
highly visible
threat towards
the enemy.
Source: Courtesy
of
Wikipedia