growling lion/demon face with gold and red skin, very wide nose and gold teeth; large red tongue; upper palate, irises, nostrils and ear canals cut out

%C2%A9 Yamaguchi Bidou

Noh Mask of Shishiguchi, 2004

expand_more
On View in Gallery 219expand_more

With bared fangs and teeth and eyes staring intensely under furrowed brows, this Shishiguchi mask appears fearsome. Although the mask has human-like features, actors wear it when performing lion characters. In the Noh play Shakkyō (Stone Bridge), a Japanese monk who travels to Mount Wutai in China attempts to cross a bridge to reach the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī’s Pure Land. As he begins to cross, a young woodcutter convinces him to refrain and wait. He then witnesses a miraculous sight: a lion dancing with peonies. He then understands this lion is Mañjuśrī’s vahana, the bodhisattva’s form of conveyance.

file_downloadprintshare
arrow_back home
Details
Title
Noh Mask of Shishiguchi
Artist Life
born 1970
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2004.206.2
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

growling lion/demon face with gold and red skin, very wide nose and gold teeth; large red tongue; upper palate, irises, nostrils and ear canals cut out

© Yamaguchi Bidou

Because of © restrictions, we can only show you a small image of this artwork. (You'll have to come see it in person.)