Thread: Buddhist head shaving.

I have old Chinese razor and I am looking for her story.

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I think this thread is particularly interesting. I recently watched a japanese movie called Zen about Dogen, the monk responsible for bringing Zen Buddhism to Japan from China. Shaved heads all around, but nary a razor to be seen.
I also went to a lecture by a zen monk a few years back and was oddly impressed with how short, uniform, and dark his hair was. Didn't ask him about it.
I suspect the kamisori is used most often in Japan, and that scene from Sanjuro where Takashi Shimura's character gets his head shaved by a monk seems to confirm that monks shaved one another's heads and the kamisori seems built for that.
That rustic looking blade above looks like a possibility, how does it hone up?

Originally Posted by bassguy

I think this thread is particularly interesting. I recently watched a japanese movie called Zen about Dogen, the monk responsible for bringing Zen Buddhism to Japan from China. Shaved heads all around, but nary a razor to be seen.
I also went to a lecture by a zen monk a few years back and was oddly impressed with how short, uniform, and dark his hair was. Didn't ask him about it.
I suspect the kamisori is used most often in Japan, and that scene from Sanjuro where Takashi Shimura's character gets his head shaved by a monk seems to confirm that monks shaved one another's heads and the kamisori seems built for that.
That rustic looking blade above looks like a possibility, how does it hone up?

As far as I know, the introduction of Zen in Japan actually predated Dogen by 5 centuries. It took hold in the 12th-13th centuries, however, primarily after formalization of the Rinzai schools by Eisai and Linji/Rinzai and soon thereafter with the founding of the Soto school by Dogen. Dogen had been in China as had Eisai, but I think the actual origination in Japan is somewhat complex.

In any event, head shavers - the whole lot of 'em.

interesting post Erik.
in the Tibetan traditions i'd say disposables except for those still in remote monasteries inside Tibet & Nepal where they're hard to come by and expensive considering their regular use. hepatitis was not uncommon from straight/DE head shaves in public barber shops in India and Nepal a decade or two ago, but i've no idea if that's still the case. i think the disposable habit has been adopted by many still in exile there as well as those who came to the West. PM'ed you with more.