Tsuno-Hanzo - 角盥漱 - [Yokai | Tsukumogami]

Tsuno-Hanzo - 角盥漱 - [Yokai|Tsukumogami] - "horned basin"

• About this Yokai: Tsuno-Hanzo are Tsukumogami (Haunted Antiques) of "Tsuno-Darai" (small, four handled, lacquered wooden bowls (usually black, or red, with gold embellishments.) They where typically used as a wash-basin for such things such as washing ones hands, face, gargling, or applying ones makeup.)] – it's often said that this particular basin belonged to Ono no Komachi, a very famous Waka poetess who was renown for her beauty & elegance (both in her words on the page, and her good looks.) - Tsuno-Hanzo appear in the form of a women who has this type of washbasin for a head, with hair that flows like water, they are most often depicted wearing elegant Heian era robes.

• History: Tsuno-hanzo was earliest illustrated & named as such in Toriyama Sekiens Gazu Tsuresure Bokuro (1781) - According to Japandemonium (2017) Toriyama's verse translates as follows:

"A manifestation of the negativity directed at Ono no Komachi, she of the floating weeds from unknown seeds, in the Soshi-Arai. So I dreamed."

"Soshi-Arai" which Sekien is referencing, was both a famous story and notably a noh play, it's a fictional story with an “all-star” cast whose members where at one point, historically famous poets, who in the story are having a poetry writing contest for the emperor & nobles (Such contests where the nobles ideas of a pass-times.) - The previously mentioned Ono no Komachi is the starring role, in which; the famous poetess is framed by a jealous rival for Plagiarism! - (Dishonour!! They re-wrote her poem in an older text book to try and make her look bad!) - But she notices the fresh ink and thinking quickly, She washes the book in her Tsuno-Darai, the poem dissolves and washes away, proving her innocence! - in Toriyamas passage: "she of the floating weeds from unknown seeds" is referencing the verse which she was accused of stealing: "as floating weeds grow, without knowing who spread their seeds, so too did the sorrow grow in my heart." and so ever since, It has been said that this yokai is thought to come to life as a manifestation of the misplaced negativity directed towards her. 

[I'd suppose that you could also interpret this as Toriyama drawing her as a Yokai too, below is an illustration of Ono, note the similarities in both pose & clothing! I'd suppose that the 'horns' of the pot could be interpreted as a sort of 'hannya mask'.]

[a portrait of Ono no Komachi by Suzuki Harunobu. 1750]

[An antique Tsuno-darai, Image source]

Similar earlier Yokai: also worth note is that yokai based on Tsuno-darai indeed predate the above story and exist in some of the earliest Hyakki Yagyo Emaki as far back as the kamakura period! (1185–1333) - As said, this type of bowl was at one point used for everyday use, such as applying lacquer to teeth, shaving & applying makeup – (For more about that see: Ohagurobettari) - as well as stargazing & mirror scrying – (See also Ungaikyo) - its thought that over time, people stopped using these handled bowls as much, because the four handles took up too much space! (they came to be replaced simple tubs, barrels and eventually, sinks.) - These "Tsuno-Darai-Obake" (below are a few examples) predate Sekiens book, Most of Toriyamas yokai where directly inspired by these older yokai scrolls, so we can assume that the idea for Tsuno-Hanzo was inspired by their inclusion! 

[a few earlier miscellaneous Tsuno-Darai Obake. - Images source nichibun yokai database: 1, 2, 3]

[Art Sticker by @samkalensky (yo! thats me!) part of my HyakkiYagyo night parade of 100 demons sticker collection, Support & follow for more!]

[Personal note: while i was drawing (and it was in black and white) my sibling took one look at this one and said "aha! its a yokai bowl of noodles!" (it was too cute not to mention) well, eating noodles out of a washtub would be scary indeed...]