shiwajou　皺尉

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Wrinkled old man. A noh mask *noumen 能面 representing a dignified, old man. From the outside corner of the eyes, wrinkles curve down toward the nose and others are carved around the outer edges of the mouth. The eyes slant slightly upward at the outer corners and the mouth is gently rounded, revealing only the upper teeth. While tan horse hair is implanted on the chin, the mustache and area below the lower lip are painted. The coloring of shiwajou is slightly off-white compared to the light, earthy yellow color of *maijou 舞尉. Overall, the mask has the expression of an orderly, elegant older man. Shiwajou is used by the Kanze 観世 school in the second act of plays like SAIGYOUZAKURA 西行桜, HAKURAKUTEN 白楽天, or OIMATSU 老松 for the spirit of a tree or a god of a shrine who dances. For the same plays, the Houshou 宝生 school uses the maijou, and the Kongou 金剛, Konparu 金春, and Kita 喜多 schools use the *ishioujou 石王尉. A particularly good example with a soft touch to the carving is the shiwajou owned by the Kanze family of n actors in Tokyo and is probably identical to the one referred to in the notes of the 16c. actor Shimotsuma Shoushin.

REFERENCES:

*joumen 尉面

EXTERNAL LINKS:

NOTES:

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.　No reproduction or republication without written permission. 掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。