ooakujou　大悪尉

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Also akujou 悪尉.　A noh mask *noumen 能面 representing a strong, fierce old man. Larger than most noumen and *kijinmen 鬼神面, ooakujou has a prominent, slightly hooked nose and metallic eyes that glare out from under a heavy ridge forming the eyebrow. Sharp tension-furrows line the area above the eyes and on the Kanze 観世 school model mask honmen 本面, veins protrude in the middle of the forehead. The leering mouth exposes upper and lower teeth and a curled, red tongue. Implanted hair for moustache and beard lend the mask a strange realism. Compared to the menacing look of the Kanze school model, the Houshou 宝生 school version appears less threatening. The former is dark, with vermilion lining the furrows on the brow and cheeks, while the latter is painted off-yellow, with faint red in the furrows. While the Kanze mask is topped by a black line, the Houshou school mask has alternating black and white strands of hair drawn in at the sides imitative of the implanted hair on old men's masks *joumen 尉面. Deep creases are also found around the mouth, running vertically down the cheeks. Individual hairs painted in white and black form the eyebrows and the entire mask is painted in an earthy tan. Worn for roles of frightening spirits and strong gods in TAMANOI 玉井, NANIWA 難波, KOI-NO-OMONI 恋重荷, and CHOURYOU 張良. In addition to the Kanze and Houshou model masks (both Important Cultural Properties), other Muromachi period examples of ooakujou include both Kanze (private collection, Tokyo) and Houshou (Danzan Jinja 談山神社, Nara) styles as well as unorthodox forms. A version painted entirely in gold is called dei-no-ooakujou 泥大悪尉.

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