Bones on the Battle Field of Sekigahara

 

Orphaned Unsigned Fuchi, ca. 1800

This orphaned fuchi (ca. 1800), illustrates the smashed and scattered human remains on the battlefield of Sekigahara.  The simple use of silver inlayed bones and sparse vegetation of gold, all upon an iron background, leaves a bleak, quiet reminder on the passing of life and acceptance of ones ultimate duty as a samurai.

This fuchi is abnormally large, made for a very robust katana tsuka.  Had the kashira been present, emphatically it would have depicted a skull and possibly some armor.  Sadly we may never know.

When dealing with the depiction of Skulls and bones in Japanese art, I think we must abandon the conventional European/North American (Western) symbology of "be warned", and adopt a more insightful Eastern attitude: a reflection of what is and what will be.

In Japanese martial art, bones appear to be treated in two different, yet similar ways to each other, as well. Firstly we see the scattered bones lying about a battle field. Traditionally and historically we understand this to be the aftermath of the battle of Sekigahara (1600).  Indeed these may also be emblematic of other battles.  Secondly the very Buddhistic philosophy of life, death and bushido is often illustrated with a skull. More of an introspective observation of: "Remember that you are mortal", "Remember that you must die".

Both this fuchi and the skull and strike menuki examples could be viewed as a kind of "Memento Mori".

Nowhere that I have seen, have the Japanese employed skulls or bones as an ominous icon to intimidate an opponent - a threat. If you have an example, We would love to see it.