Noh Masks | cambon-dominique
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     Masks are made of papier maché.  Old magazine paper and other paper prints were used to decorate the masks. No paint was used. Afterwards the masks are varnished.

     

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PAPIER MACHE 

NOH MASKS

THE HISTORY OF NOH MASKS

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HANNYA

31x19x10cm

2012

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KO-OMOTE 小面

20x13x7cm

2012

Represents a young beautiful woman from the Heian period.

 

“Ko” means youth and beauty and “Omote” means face.  But ko-omote means literally  “narrow face”. 

 

De ko-omote belongs to the Onna-men (Women). The mask was a part of the Noh repertoire very early, mainly because there were a lot of female characters.

 

Various variations have emerged from this mask. The ko-omote shows a certain level of sensuality according to the colour

and cut of the mask.

顰,   portrays a violent person and   evil spirit  or monster such as the   characters in the second part of "Tsuchigumo" and "Momijigari". ​         Originally, the term Shikami is an amalgamation of shishi and kami, meaning "lion" and "bite," The mask represents a lion that bites something.

SHIKAMI 顰

20x13x7cm

2012

Portrays a violent person and evil spirit  or monster such as the characters in the second part of "Tsuchigumo" and "Momijigari".

​

Originally, the term Shikami is an amalgamation of shishi and kami,

meaning "lion" and "bite".

The mask represents a lion that bites something.

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ONNA-MEN 小面

20x13x7cm

2012

Represents a young beautiful woman from the Heian period.

 

“Ko” means youth and beauty and “Omote” means face.  But ko-omote means literally  “narrow face”. 

 

De ko-omote belongs to the Onna-men (Women). The mask was a part of the Noh repertoire very early, mainly because there were a lot of female characters.

 

Various variations have emerged from this mask. The ko-omote shows a certain level of sensuality according to the colour

and cut of the mask.

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HANNYA 般若

28x17x10cm

2012

A jealous female demon.

The mask is used to represent sublime emotions of a human. It has two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes and a mouth wide open from ear to ear.       

 

The name is a Sino-Japanese word for wisdom. The mask portrays the souls of women who have become demons due to obsession or jealousy.

 

The Hannya mask is said to be demonic and dangerous but also sorrowful and tormented, displaying the complexity of human emotions.

When the actor looks straight ahead, the mask appears frightening and angry; when tilted slightly down, the face of the demon appears to be sorrowful, as though crying. The oldest hannya mask is dated 1558.

 

Hannya masks appear in various skin tones: a white mask indicates a woman with a refined character, a red mask depicts a less refined character and the darkest red depicts true demons.

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AKUJO-BESHIMI 悪尉べ見

24x19x12cm

2012

Represents a very old demon from hell.

 

The word “Akujo” comes from “Aku”, which means extremely malicious,  and “jo” meaning elder.

              

Characteristic for this type of mask is the exuberant mass of hair around the mouth and above the eyes, the firmly clamped mouth and the metallic eyeballs. All those characteristics give a stubborn and determined aspect tot he mask.

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KO-BESHIMI 小べし見

22x19x5cm

2010

Represents a demon from hell.  

 

He dances like a frenzy. The facial expression creates a truly frightening and intense appearance. A sharp look comes from the bulging, metallic gold eyeballs. The mouth is firmly clamped. The dark red colour of the mask shows power. 

 

The mask is used in interpreting a ruthless god, such as in the Noh performances Ukai, Nomori en Matsuyama Kagami and for terrifying demons with supernatural forces in Himuro, Taniko and Tampu, and to represent a spirit that has fallen in the underworld in Shôkun, Shôki and Kôtei.

 

The very first Kobeshimi mask was created by  Shakazuru  Yoshinari which can be seen in the Tokyo National Museum.

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