FU MANCHU

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The way of the mustache ·

FU MANCHU

フー・マンチュー

Six masters, two white strands each. Edo, around 1700.

The Way of the Mustache

A Fu Manchu grows from two points at the corners of the mouth and falls straight past the chin.

The six masters of this temple treat it as a discipline. They grow it slowly, they never shape it, and they let gravity finish the work. A season of patience shows up as one more sun of length.

The Six Masters

Lengths in sun, the Edo measure: 1 sun = 3.03 cm.

Sensei Rsmr in an olive haori and straw cape, holding a red cedar staff

Sensei Rsmr

Length
七寸 · 21.2 cm
Carries
Red cedar staff · 赤杉の杖
Sensei Orangie in a black monk robe with a saffron sash and prayer beads

Sensei Orangie

Length
五寸 · 15.2 cm
Carries
Prayer beads · 数珠
Sensei Ansem in white pilgrim robes with a straw hat and pilgrim staff

Sensei Ansem

Length
六寸 · 18.2 cm
Carries
Pilgrim staff with bell · 鈴の巡礼杖
Sensei Tjr in an indigo kimono and grey hakama with a gnarled staff

Sensei Tjr

Length
八寸 · 24.2 cm
Carries
Gnarled staff · 節くれ立った杖
Sensei Brez in an indigo and cream wave-pattern yukata

Sensei Brez

Length
四寸 · 12.1 cm
Wears
Wave-pattern yukata · 波模様の浴衣
Sensei Kim in a brown haori over a saffron kimono, holding a ringed monk staff

Sensei Kim

Length
九寸 · 27.3 cm
Carries
Ringed monk staff · 錫杖

Anatomy of a Fu Manchu

Lower face with two long strands hanging from the corners of the mouth 1 2 3 4
  1. 1

    Root

    Two points at the corners of the upper lip.

  2. 2

    Bare center

    The skin under the nose stays shaved.

  3. 3

    The fall

    Straight down, well past the chin.

  4. 4

    The tip

    Uncut, unwaxed, uncurled.

Close-up of Sensei Rsmr’s white Fu Manchu mustache in golden backlight
Plate 1 · 図版一Sensei Rsmr, seven sun.

The Code

  1. Let it fall.

  2. Grow it only from the corners of the mouth.

  3. Never wax it. Never curl it.

  4. Stroke it slowly when you think.

  5. Walk slowly, so it can follow.