Mendicant Monk Begging Bowl Antique Buddhist Takuhatsu

Description Antique begging bowl for Japanese Buddhist monk engaged in the practice of begging for offerings from community members. This practice is called takuhatsu in Japan though the practice is common throughout Asia where priests can sometimes be seen leaving their temple alone or in groups in order to wander the streets in humble garb and with faces covered while possibly heralding their presence with subdued bells or chanting. Here in Japan the sight of a begging monk in the busy streets of cosmopolitan cities such as Tokyo or Osaka are startling reminders that a very ancient and wonderful culture lies hidden always just beneath the thin veneer of modern Japanese life. About the Listed Item This wonderful antique begging bowl includes a bamboo frame covered with layers of hardened, yet pliable paper. The paper covering appears to have come from some written text and much of the surface is covered with brush-applied Japanese writing. Large black kanji characters written on the outer surface of the bowl read Taisho gonen ichigatsu which indicate the month of January during the fifth year (1917) of the Japanese Taisho period (1912-1926). The bowl has seen much past use and has many marks and scratches and wears a darkened patina of age. Paper patches are found in places and may have been used to cover areas of wear. Size: Height (excluding stand): 7.0 inches (18.0 centimeters) Diameter (at top): 15.6 inches (40.0 centimeters) Weight: 23.1 ounces (660 grams) item code: R3S7-0003434 ship code: Med & D