Head bucket

[estcrh]

I was hoping someone here would have some information on Samurai head buckets or kubi oke. I found this one and have no idea if it is real (which I doubt) or an exact copy or just something put together...I have found very little info online thats helpful just this picture of one destroyed in ww2 from> http://english.tsukudo.jp/treasure-backet.html and this article from 1921 http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 27,1712834

 

[Bugyotsuji]

This is what I have learned so far Eric. It may need to be adjusted in some way by Ian or someone.

 

Every castle had kubi-bitsu, ready and prepared for times of conflict.

 

There was an inner domed box and an outer bucket which rested on two intrinsic parallel wooden blocks. When the head was washed the buckets needed to have the bottom free of the floor to improve air circulation for quick drying.

 

Once they had been used they were destroyed. The 'new' ones that were not yet used were generally destroyed anyway at the end of Edo. Thus there are very few 'genuine' ones around, and in my experience most Japanese, even the tough ones, will refuse to have such an object in their house. Superstition, you might call it, but certain superstitions are still very strong here.

[cabowen]

...in my experience most Japanese, even the tough ones, will refuse to have such an object in their house. Superstition, you might call it, but certain superstitions are still very strong here.

 

 

Very true. My wife, who is Japanese, was not keen on swords in the house and absolutely would not have armor on the property!

[IanB]

All, I was once shown what was supposed to be a 'head bucket' but I was not convinced. It was as Piers described - a flat oval wooden with a wooden spike in the centre and a barrel shaped cover. What put me off was that it was black lacquered and looked awfully new. Since the guy who had it bought most of his stock from the Kyoto flea-markets I suspect it was a recent knock-up designed to hook a tourist. As for superstitions, There is a patch of ground in Nikko, at the end of a bridge and nestling against a cliff. Nobody will buy or build on it because it was the local execution ground.

Ian Bottomley

[estcrh]

Thanks everyone for the info, if someone comes across a picture or any other facts (real or rumored) send them this way....