Page 401 - JAPAN THE SHAPING OFDAIMYO CULTURE 1185-1868

328 329

328 Shakumi Fukai, differs only in depicting a some-
polychromed wood what older woman. Both are used in plays
21.2 X 13.9 (8 3/8 X 5 Vz) such as Sumidagawa, in which a mother
Edo period, igth century searches for her lost child only to find the
Tokyo National Museum child dead, or for the middle-aged women
roles in the plays Bashd or Teika.
On the back of cat. 328 is an inscrip-
tion, Omi, and a burnt-in seal, Tenka Ichi
329 Shakumi Omi (Omi, First under Heaven).
polychromed wood In comparison with cat. 328, the fore-
21.0 x 13.9 (8 V 4 x 5 V 2) head of cat. 329 protrudes more, the line
Edo period, igth century over each eyelid is carved more deeply,
Tokyo National Museum and the outer corners of the eyes and
mouth turn down more sharply, express-
In contrast to the youthful quality of ing a more advanced age. The fuller
Koomote (cats. 318, 319), the face of the cheeks indicate, perhaps, a somewhat
middle-aged woman's mask, Shakumi, has plump woman. MK
lost its firmness, and the strands of hair
falling on the cheeks are in relative disor-
der. It is the countenance of a woman old
enough to have known the pains of life.
The pupils are half-circles, unlike the
square ones of Koomote. A similar mask,

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