Noh mask world
Different from other masks used around the world for dramatic plays, a Nohmen is not worn over the head. They're worn on the face, held by string. During the Nohgaku, expressions are changed by slightly moving one's head up and down, so Noh masks are designed flat and small to make delicate movement possible. In order to express many different emotions using a single mask, it is made to not express any one, specific emotion. It can express a variety of emotions and can be used for plays in which the character's emotions may change at any time. The choreography, music, or song in Noh relay the emotions and symbolize the story, creating the impression of changing facial expressions. The Noh mask is like an instructor. It helps people lean how to perform Noh. By appreciating Noh masks, you can catch a glimpse of the concept of Noh.
Nnowledge of The Noh Masks
Onna-men (woman mask)
| Ko-omote | "Ko-" is a prefix to mean pretty, young, gentle, or beautiful. The Koomote is the youngest among Onna-men. It shows a 16 to 17 year-old virgin. It is the most fleshy and has slit eyes, a wide forehead, and a long chin. The eyes, nose, and mouth are gathered at the center of the face, and seem childish. |
|---|---|
| Waka-onna (young female mask) |
Waka-onna(young female mask) This mask has an expression between Koomote's prettiness and Zhoonna's grace and intelligence. It conveys intelligence and sensuality. |
| Magojiro | Compared with Koomote, the position of the eyes is much higher. It seems like a mature female face, or a charming young wife. And increasingly disordered hairlines convey older ages. It is said that the creator of the mask (Magojiro) died at age 27. There is a legend that his wife died at a younger age and he made this mask in yearning for her. |
| Zho-onna | It has a long forehead, tight flesh, a thin nose line, and the eyes and forehead appear hollow. The distance between the eyes is rather short. Both ends of the mouth drop down a little giving the impression of older age. It is a neat and clean face potraying sophistication and dignity. This mask is used as a goddess figure in Noh. |
| Fukai | Fukai represents a middle aged woman. It has a larger forehead, and is a little concave in the center of the face. It has depressions on the cheeks like dimples, and the eyes show grief. It's used to represent a mother who lost her child, a lonely wife separated from her husband, or a crazy woman. |
| Uba | Uba represents to an incarnation of a god. Or, it also expresses an elegant old woman. Hairlines are mixed with gray hairs to express old age. The eyes look downward and the upper eyelids are flabby. |
| Hannya | Hannya expresses a jealous woman . The entire face is painted red to express anger. There are two horns on the forehead and the distorted eyebrows are wrinkled. It has glaring eyes. The mouth is open like a beast, and has couple of fangs on the top and bottom. The ears are large. Putting this mask on a face while facing downward and the facing upward quickly conveys a changing of moods from gloomy to happy, or from sad to angry. |
Otokomen (men's masks)
| Jyuroku(sixteen) | This mask has a gentle mouth and pretty dimples. It expresses a beautiful boy with a vibrant face. |
|---|---|
| Chujyo | The lower eyelids curve upward, the corners of the eyes turn up a little, and it has a straight solid nose. It is full of elegance like a young nobleman. No row of lower teeth expresses gentleness, beauty, and elegance. Two vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows give a kind of sad look. It is used as a hero of a tragedy, or as a court noble of Heike (a defeated family of an ancient war). |
| Heita | It has the sunburned face of a brave warrior, gallant eyebrows, and a straight mustache. It is the face of a gallant, middle aged commander. |
| Kantan-otoko | This mask has deep muscle wrinkles between the eyebrows, and long dimples on the cheeks. The corners of the eyes go up a little and the muscles on the cheeks are tight. It conveys the power of the common people. The Kantan-otoko mask is worn in the telling of the following tale: A hero, Korosei, travels to Soh (one of the ancient countries in China)to learn from a high class Buddhist priest how to overcome the quandaries in his life. On the way, he arrives at Kanze village, and rests using a pillow that was lent to him by a master of the inn. He dreams that a messenger comes to tell him he will become a king. Kosei is delighted; he feels as if he is in heaven. In his dream he experienced fifty years of prosperity .In reality, it was a very short time, meanwhile the master of the inn was cooking rice with chestnuts. Kosei realized that life is merely a string of dreams, and decides to return to his country. In order to express two completely different feelings of this hero, this mask is able to express great sorrow as well as happiness with change in movement. |
| Kagekiyo | Kagekiyo was once a famous general. But he fell in rank and eventually became a blind beggar. This face retains the obstinacy of a soldier, and has a remarkably stern feeling. It is a strong character. |
Okinamen (old man)
| Okina | The Okinamen was used in Japan during prayer dances for agricultural prosperity before Nohgaku became popular. The Okinamen expresses laughter and delight. During prayer, it's used when asking for world peace and good harvest, as well as happiness and the prosperity of one's descendants. Different from other masks, the lower jaw is separated from the upper jaw, and is tied with a string. This may be because the mask was used when singing. Decorative eyebrows made of cotton, silk yarn, or rabbit hair, are stuck on. |
|---|
Rojinmen (Masks of old ages)
| Ko-jyo | On the Kojyo, the entire face is thin with gentle eyes and only an upper row of teeth, a beard and mustache are painted on. It is a face of gentle old age and conveys great dignity. |
|---|
Masks of Gods
| Oh-tobide | The term "tobide" means eyeballs springing out. The eyebrows curve up and the pupils face down a little, so it looks like it is looking down. The mouth is open wide. A red tongue sticks out and curves up at the end and it has a magnificent nose. It conveys strong power. This mask is used to sweep out demons. |
|---|---|
| Ko-tobide | Compared with Ohtobide, Kotobide is not as boldly painted and has red around the eyes. The mouth, tongue, and nose, are smaller than Ohtobide, and it has no ears. The Kotobide character is cunning and courageous. It portrays a god running with light steps on the ground; a fairy or superman. |
| Oh-beshimi | The term "beshimi" means to tightly shut the mouth while chewing the lips and hiding the teeth. Ohbeshimi has widely opened eyes, broadly opened nostrils, and a tightly shut mouth. The expression conveys a strong force coming from inside. It also appears as if it is laughing loudy. Aside from the strongly expressive face, we can sense a funniness. This mask is a long-nosed threatening goblin hiding a weakness. |
| Shikami | On this mask all of the facial muscles are distorted and it looks extremely angry. Most of these masks are painted with deep colors. This mask expresses a strong intent to harm an opponent. It is used as a demon god, and is killed in dramas. |
Celebration mask
| Shishiguchi(lion mouth) | In a play called "Shakkyoh", two lions appear, a parent and its young. This mask is used as a parent lion.. |
|---|---|
| Ko-jishi(small lion) | This mask is used as the child lion. It expresses bravery and skillful movement. |
| Shojyo | Shojyo is a fairy that is fond of liquor and appears in an ancient Chinese story. It is used to express drunkenness, and its wearer dances violently. This is a rare face of Noh mask as it has a smile from ear to ear. |