What do Japanese Noh masks represent?
Noh masks signify the characters’ gender, age, and social ranking, and by wearing masks the actors may portray youngsters, old men, female, or nonhuman (divine, demonic, or animal) characters.
What are Noh masks called?
omote
Masks are a fundamental part of the Japanese Noh Theater. Noh masks are called omote in Japanese. They serve to characterize a certain role in a play. Noh plays seldom have more than 2-3 actors, and only the actor who represents the main role (“shite”) plus his companion (“tsure”) wear masks.
What are the five types of masks in Noh Theatre?
The five types are types: Jō-men, old men masks; otoko-men, men masks; onna-men, women masks; onryō-men, spirit masks; and kijin-men, demon masks.
What is the Noh mask effect?
The Noh Mask Effect: A Facial Expression Illusion Rotation of the head out of the visual plane changes the two-dimensional image characteristics of the mask which viewers may misinterpret as non-rigid changes due facial muscle action.
Why are Noh masks important?
Masks are very important in the Noh and are worn only by the main character. The mask helps to raise the action out of the ordinary, to freeze it in time. For the Noh actor the mask of a particular character has almost a magic power. The chorus often echoes the words of the characters, but it may also speak for them.
What can be found under Noh stages?
The complete noh stage is comprised of the hon-butai (main playing area), hashigakari (bridgeway), ato-za (seating section for musicians and stage attendants) and the jiutai-za (seating section for the chorus).
How many types of Noh masks are there?
200 different kinds
As Noh is an art form that utilizes masks, there is a great variety of them. There were originally about 60 basic types of noh masks, but today there are well over 200 different kinds in use. Covering the face with a mask is much like wearing makeup.
Why are Noh masks worn?
Masks are very important in the Noh and are worn only by the main character. The mask helps to raise the action out of the ordinary, to freeze it in time. For the Noh actor the mask of a particular character has almost a magic power.
What are the Noh costumes called and what do they express?
The costumes used in noh are called noh shōzoku. A good example is the karaori, an exquisitely embroidered, traditional woman’s kimono. Certainly one of the most beautiful theatrical costumes in the world.
When were noh masks used?
The importance of masks With roots going back to the 12th century, Noh developed from ancient ceremonial dramas performed at shrines and temples.
When were noh masks first used?
Exactly when the noh mask came into being is not entirely clear however it is believed that masks, and their names still used today, were developed from the mid to latter part of the Muromachi period (1392-1573).
What does a noh stage look like?
Stage. Noh is performed on a square stage with a roof that is supported at its four corners by pillars. All sides of the stage are open except for the back side which consists of a wall with a painted image of a pine tree.
What is the history of the Noh mask?
Noh mask is one of the oldest theater styles in Japan. Noh is best known to be a classical Japanese musical drama that is based on stories performed since the 14th century from popular literature. In the story, the supernatural creature becomes a human form and tells the story.
What are the meanings of the Japanese masks?
Traditional Japanese masks are either archetypes borrowed from myths and gods or representing emotions, and they have been used in Shinto shrine festivals, rituals, and traditional drama called Noh. Some of them are quite popular Japanese masks that you can still see today. History of Japanese Masks
Do you wear a mask in genzai Noh?
This is called hitamen or a “direct mask.” However, even without wearing a mask, the performer is meant to “make their face a mask.” The performer must inject power and emotion into their performance while not using their face to express. In some genzai noh the shite or tsure do not wear masks.
What does the word Noh mean in Japanese?
The term ‘Noh’ means art cultivation of talent, knowledge, and craft. Noh mask is one of the oldest theater styles in Japan. Noh is best known to be a classical Japanese musical drama that is based on stories performed since the 14th century from popular literature. In the story, the supernatural creature becomes a human form and tells the story.