Noh character Japanese masks are one of the more interesting visual features of Noh theatre. While scholars believe that some form of Noh theatre existed before mid-1300s, none of the plays from those days remain in existence today.
Noh Japanese Masks
The actor that plays the main character, known as the shite, will wear a Noh mask unless the character is an adult male. Common Japanese face masks include those of supernatural characters, old men, young men and women. Actors portraying supporting characters, or the tsure, might also wear masks. It depends on the play. Boy actors, or kotata, and other characters, waki, never wear masks.
Expressions of Noh Masks
Many Noh masks could be described as expressionless. When wearing this type of mask, an actor must portray emotion through voice and/or body language.
Another type of mask is designed to show emotion. This mask changes expressions depending on lighting and how the actor who is wearing the mask tilts his head. When an actor turns his head slightly upwards, or terasu, the mask's face looks like the face is smiling. When the actor turns his face downwards, or kumorasu, the mask's face appears to cry.
Making Noh Masks
Made from one piece of Japanese cypress, a Noh mask is deliberately lightweight as the actor may have to wear the mask throughout the entire performance. After the outline of the mask is finished and the holes for the nose, mouth and eyes have been carved out, the mask is painted with several layers of a gesso/glue combination. After the gesso/glue has dried and been sanded, the face is painted. The mask may also be gilded with eyes inlaid with metal. It can take up to several months to make a single Noh mask.
Collecting Noh Masks
While you can see fine examples of Noh masks in museums, the best and rarest masks are in private collections. However, this doesn't mean that you can't collect Noh masks.
Since there are about eighty basic types of masks to explore and more than 200 kinds of masks overall, you will have many choices to start your collection. You can find Noh masks offered online on several Web sites that specialize in this type of mask art.
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