onryoumen　怨霊面

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Noh masks *noumen 能面 of ghosts and spirits. Although all the onryou masks share sculptural characteristics, being gaunt, bony renditions of humans with protruding bones, thin lips, round metallic eyes, and thin straggly hair, they are used for three distinct types of roles: vigorous gods, vengeful wraiths, and ghosts tormented in hell. Vigorous gods, such as Sumiyoshi Myoujin 住吉明神, are most typically represented by *mikazuki 三日月 and its variants *jintai 神体, *awaotoko 阿波男, taka 鷹, and hayaotoko 早男. These Shinto gods differ from other, more violent, images of Shinto gods, like tobide 飛出 and akujou 悪尉, in being essentially human in conception, as opposed to fantastic mythical forms. Revengeful wraiths resentful of treatment in battle, by lovers, or in politics, generally wear masks of the *ayakashi 怪士 type, or derivitives like *otoko masugami 男十寸髪 or *nishikigiotoko 錦木男. Over the years, however, the similarity in structure between the the mikazuki and ayakashi types of masks has led actors to substitute one for the other, as suits their particular school tradition, or personal interpretation of the specific role. Early masks of the latter type are often labeled ryou-no-otoko 霊男. Many Muromachi period examples can be found in shrines and temples around the country, such as Kasuga Jinja 春日神社 in Fukui prefecture, Oki Jinja 息神社 in Shizuoka prefecture, and Hakusan Jinja 白山神社 in Gifu prefecture. Like all early masks, these exhibit a greater freedom of carving and variation of expression than later versions, but all share the characteristics listed above. Parallel women's masks include *deigan 泥眼 and *masugami 十寸髪 for masks that can either be used as goddesses or possessed spirits. In addition, angry spirits who take on the guise of a snake or dragon to carry out their revenge are represented by *hannya 般若 and related masks. The third group, masks of tormented ghosts, center on the *yaseotoko 痩男 and *yaseonna 痩女, *ryouonna 霊女 types, with their variations. Of a somewhat later conception from the other two types, these masks also differ in having passive, introverted expressions, seen particularly in the loose, down-ward turned lips, and lack of lower teeth. Appearing almost like a skeleton come to life, these masks have a haunting beauty. The late 15c carver Himi Munetada 氷見宗忠 (see *jissaku 十作) is primarily responsible for creating the tormented ghost mask types.

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