Nape of the neck

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Base of the nape (bon no kubo)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Non-seasonal Topic
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

nape of the neck, bon no kubo 盆の窪 (ぼんのくぼ)
..... bon no kubi ぼんの首

"nape" means "back of the neck".

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Some Japanese theories about this expression

bon　盆 written with kanji for "tray" is maybe short for boozu　坊主, a bald priest head, where the nape can be seen very clearly.

The hairstyle of children in the Edo time with a little tuft seems not be be related to this BON. This BON ぼん　is written with hiragana.

Another theory says BON is a sloppy pronounciation of HONE　ほね, bones.　骨窪

Here is more in Japanese.
gogen-allguide.com

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the hair stand up on the back of our necks!
Larry

It is quit untreatable.
We Japanese could sympathize with your phrase.
[Bon no kubo] is basically fear. And when we feel fear all hairs on our head stand vertically up. In this state we say "zotto suru ぞっとする".

I think if person understand this state of mind, any reference of this part of the body is all suitable to be used.

Nakamura Sakuo

zotto suru ぞっとする　:
恐怖や寒さなどで、身体（からだ）が震え上がるような感じがする。全身の毛が逆立つように感じる。
例：「ぞっとするほどの美人」
　© tomomi965

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Nape at the hollow of the neck:
A baby's head was shaved, but if a small tuft of hair was left growing at the nape it too was known as bon no kubo.





Prints by Kunisada

Here are two details from prints by Kunisada.
Notice the subtle indications of the areas at the back of the the head at the nape where the hair has been allowed to grow.
© JAPANESE PRINTS / Jerry Vegder 070715

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

ずんずんとぼんの凹から寒さかな
zunzun to bon no kubo kara samusa kana
Issa

from the nape of my neck
chilling, chilling, chilling ...
the cold

First tentative version by Gabi

More translations by Michael Haldane
Translating Haiku Forum

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More haiku by Issa

bon no kubo yûhi ni mukete hibachi kana

on the nape
of my neck, setting sun
and hibachi

.....

temakura ya bon no kubo yori tobu hotaru

hands for a pillow--
from the nape of my neck
a firefly flits

.....

tsuribito no bon no kubo yori kaeru kari

behind the fisherman's neck
departing
geese

.....

yami no yo no hatsu yuki rashi ya bon no kubo

dark night--
the first snowflakes
hit my neck

.....

hana tsumu ya ôgi wo choi to bon no kubo

picking flowers--
his paper fan stowed
behind his neck

.....

bonokubo ni ôgi o choi to ko bôzu

he stows his fan
behind his neck...
little boy

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no-botoke no bon no kubo yori ume no hana

from the nape
of the field Buddha's neck...
plum blossoms

.....

kawahori ya yotaka ga bon no kubomi yori

bats--
and behind my neck
a nighthawk


.....

bon no kubo kara hiyashi keri ama no kawa

on the nape of my neck
a chill...
Heaven's River



©　Haiga by Nakamura Sakuo


Tr. David Lanoue

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Related words

***** More Haiku by Issa and Japanese Culture


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