> Cyber Museum > What is a Mask   In Oceania, masks are mainly concentrated in Melanesia. In particular, masks are frequently used in funerals, coming-of-age celebrations, abundance rituals, etc. in the basin of the Sepik River in the Papua New Guinea. In addition, there are masks for decoration. Melanesian masks are used by mask associations and closely related to ancestor worshipping and totem worshipping in general. Some of ancestor spirit (祖靈) masks in the basin of the Sepik River are believed to have pieces of the skull of dead persons. In addition, some ancestor spirit masks are used in coming-of-age celebrations, intending to terrify boys with ordeals. In general, masks in Melanesia exaggerate the nose, mouth, head, etc. like African masks and have patterns of strong color, so they are full of power. Basket masks in the Maprik region in New Guinea are related not only to their women's productivity but also the good harvest of yam, a kind of sweet potato.   The Papua tribe in New Guinea holds an event to expel evil spirits as a part of the general cleaning of their village in spring. In the event, they wear impressive masks carved out of wood, dance for ghosts, and serve ghosts with the souls of pigs, yam (a kind of sweet potato) and fowls put on tables by the roadside. Then they drive out ghosts by beating the columns of houses.   Western Melanesia have various masks symbolizing the souls of ancestors. Most masks in the basin of the Sepik River in New Guinea are decorated with shells, fabrics, animal skins, seeds, flowers, feathers, etc. These masks represent not only ancestors' souls but also supernatural spirits.   War masks used by the Asmat Papua tribe in the southwest coast of New Guinea were originally used in funerals, symbolize the souls of dead persons. They were kept in men's houses after the funerals and used at war to threaten enemies.   The body of a dead person was embalmed and preserved by putting a mask or clay upon the skull or the whole head as did in New Guinea, New Island, New Hebrides Islands, Australia, New Britain, New Zealand, Marquesas Islands in the southeast Pacific Ocean, etc. The custom of burying a dead person with the face covered with a mask is widely carried out, which is closely related to worshipping of dead persons.   The Asmat Papua tribe in the southeast coast of New Guinea performs a funeral ceremony called 'Jipae' in order to drive out the soul of the dead person, which may wander around the village. The soul of a dead person is represented by one of his relatives wearing a mask. The man in mask dances throughout the night and when the sun is rising in the east the man in mask is attacked and expelled by village men. The mask is used just once for Jipae. After the use, it is kept in men's houses and used at war to threaten enemies. Totem mask - The Papua tribe in New Guinea Island erects a huge wooden totem mask called Hevehe, which has large colored eyes and frightening face. The Orokolo tribe and its neighboring tribes in the region of Papua Bay in Melanesia use masks called Eharo in their totem dance. Eharo masks symbolize fish, bird, reptile, insect, dog, tree, mushroom, etc.