Sanju　散手

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Abbreviation of Sanju Hajinraku 散手破陣楽. *Bugaku 舞楽 dance and mask *bugakumen 舞楽面 representing a strong-willed warrior. Classification (for terms see *bugaku ): a military dance bu-no-mai 武舞 of the Left sa-no-mai 左舞 said to have originated in China. It is performed by one main dancer dressed in Heian style military attire who holds a halberd and is accompanied by several boy assistants. The dance has a mythical basis that has been traced by some researchers to a celebratory performance given at Shakamuni's *Shaka 釈迦 birth or to a dance by the guardian god Isakawa Myoujin 率河明神 revelling in the retreat of the Korean Silla (Jp: Shiragi 新羅) army. The large number of Sanju masks attests to the continued popularity of the dance. Two types of Sanju masks are found. The first have long faces with large, thick noses, high cheeks, fixed eyes and sternly set mouths. The eyebrows of many, like that produced by the Buddhist sculptor *busshi 仏師 Inken 院賢 dated 1207 at Toudaiji 東大寺, were strips of pasted-on animal fur. A few represent the thick eyebrows with black paint, such as the mask by Shigisan Gyouen 信貴山行円 dated 1288 (BM 68) at Konda Hachimanguu 誉田八幡宮 in Osaka. The second type shows a fuller face and is represented by only one example in Kasuga Taisha 春日大社 with an inscription that it was an 1184 copy by Joukei 定慶 (act late 13c, see *Keiha 慶派) of a Gangouji 元興寺 mask. The presence of ears, the free-flowing sculpting and large size are reminiscent of 7c to 8c gigaku masks *gigakumen 伎楽面. Unlike the other Sanju masks, it has parted lips exposing teeth. It also has animal hair implanted as beard and forelocks.

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