kojou　小尉

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Also called koujijou 小牛尉, sometimes pronounced koushijou. A type of noh mask *noumen 能面 representing a dignified old man, jou 尉. A gentle, refined expression is achieved in the soft curves of the upturned mouth and high forehead, lined with shallowly carved wrinkles. The absence of lower teeth combined with painted mustache mark this as the most dignified of the old men masks. Head hair and beard are made of implanted tan horsehair. The main role, shite シテ in the first act of nou plays like TAKASAGO 高砂, YUMIYAWATA 弓八幡, and NANIWA 難波 wears the kojou. The term for this mask comes from the name of Koushi Kiyomitsu 小牛清光 (end of 14c), said to have first created the type. The earliest extant example is owned by the Kongou 金剛 school.

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*joumen 尉面

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