displayed severed head; head on public display
Historical term referring to the Edo-period practice of displaying a criminal's severed head in public as a warning. Can also refer to the head itself or the act of displaying it.
In the Edo period, the public display of criminals' heads was carried out.
Displaying severed heads served as a warning to others.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical term.
Variant spelling with さらし in kana; also common.
Search-only abbreviated kanji form.
Rarely used kanji form; 曝 is less common than 晒.
Compound of 晒し (さらし, 'exposing, bleaching') + 首 (くび, 'neck, head'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term straightforwardly describes the practice of exposing a head to public view.