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In Japan, masks are used in mask plays such
as No-o and Gyokeng, Gakura performed at memorial
services in Sinsa, Lion Play, Deer Dance,
etc.
The representative mask play in Japan is <No-o>.
According to historians' opinion, No-o was
established in the age of Gamakura(1192-1333),
developed from Sanak imported from China and
Korea in the age of Nara(710-784). In Japan,
Sanak was called Sarugaku. Sanak are largely
composed of three types of contents, which
are comic mimicry, acrobatics such as pole
feat, rope walking, Mudong and diabolo play,
and magic. In the age of the Southern and
Northern Dynasty(1336-1392), Sarugaku play
groups occurred in each region, among which
Yujakijwa, Sarugaku in Yamato, was led by
Gannami1333-1384) who was an outstanding artist.
Jeami(1361-1442), the son of Gannami, completed
the form of No-o, inheriting his father. Previous
Sarugaku No-o had been focused on lowly excitement,
but Jeami revised it in accord with both high
and low tastes. Owing to his efforts, Sarugaku
No-o developed into No-o Gaku, and folk arts
into theatrical arts.
No-o masks are not portraits after man's face.
They do not have personality. No-o masks are
typical faces representing composite facts.
A typical face is created by the composition
of individuals with common points. Because
No-o masks are typical, their social standings
and character must be understood at a glance.
That is, the formula of No-o masks is '~like
masks.' There may be several factors forming
a type but the most important factor is the
expression of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
In No-o masks are intensive expressions. For
example, Somyeon is a typical beautiful and
lovely girl. However, the face bears slight
anxiety, delight or inexpressible sensual
charm. The intensive expression is ultimately
a necessary condition to create a typical
beautiful and lovely girl. Any angry feeling
is not detected in Somyeon.
No-o masks are largely classified into old
masks, men's masks, elders' masks, women's
masks and ghost masks. Old masks have a movable
separate lower jaw connected to the face with
a string. Men appear in the naked face without
a mask on it in principle, characters playing
the roles of the elder, the handsome boy and
the blind man and faces in an extreme condition
such as Jun-gwan(a monk appearing in Gabuki)
use masks. A large number of elders' masks
appear in No-o. In addition, women's masks
are the flowers of No-o. However, they do
not have personality like men's masks and
have a hierarchy according to age. Originally
No-o was to celebrate happy events, but it
sometimes describes dark emotions or evil
worlds using ghost masks. |
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