Rice knive
20. Jhdt. | Peter Hazdra
Since rice has a soul in many cultures in Southeast Asia, rice knives are used (at least) in the ceremonial cutting of the first rice at the beginning of the harvest, which do not frighten the rice: small knives with often even smaller and hidden blades which are made in the shape of animals living in the water, animals that have their habitat in flooded rice fields - such as snakes, crocodiles, water buffalo, birds or fish - are familiar to the rice and do not frighten it.
Since rice has a soul in many cultures in Southeast Asia, rice knives are used (at least) in the ceremonial cutting of the first rice at the beginning of the harvest, which do not frighten the rice: small knives with often even smaller and hidden blades which are made in the shape of animals living in the water, animals that have their habitat in flooded rice fields - such as snakes, crocodiles, water buffalo, birds or fish - are familiar to the rice and do not frighten it.
Collector:
Peter Hazdra (geb. 1959) DNB
Time:
20. Jhdt.
Object Name
Reismesser
Culture
Kambodscha
Copyright
Weltmuseum Wien
Collection area
South Asia, Southeast Asia, Himalayas
Geography
Südostasien/Festland/Kambodscha
Invs.
174737
