Page 407 - Edo: Art in Japan, 1615–1868

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Kyogen mask: Usobuki (minor spirit) Kyogen mask: Saru (monkey)
Seventeenth century Seventeenth century
Carved wood, gesso, and pigment Carved wood, gesso, and pigment
3
5
3
19.5 X 12.2 (7 /8X4 A) 18.3x14.5 (7 74x5 / 4)
Tokyo National Museum Tokyo National Museum
Illustrated page 376
223
Kyogen mask: Onna zaru (female
221 monkey)
Kyogen mask: Buaku (uillain)
Seventeenth century
Seventeenth century
406 Carved wood, gesso, and pigment
Carved wood 18.7 x 14.4 (7 /sx 5 /s)
5
3
7
19.1 x 17.5 (772 x 6 /s) Tokyo National Museum
Tokyo National Museum
221
• During the Edo period kyógen often
• Kyogen masks with human features
differ from their more refined no used masks for animal roles, especially
counterparts in that they freeze foxes, badgers, monkeys, and dogs —
animals that share personality traits
extreme personal characteristics. In with the humans wearing the masks.
the case of buaku, which is both the
name of a kyógen play and a type of Monkey (saru) masks were among the
first to be designed, no doubt
because
mask (cat. 221), the comic villain is they are so perfect for capturing
shown with fierce features so exag-
gerated that they become facetious. human expressions. The example of
His eyes droop in failure; the deeply the male monkey (cat. 222) looks as if
he has just bitten
a sour persimmon,
carved lines of his cheeks and forehead while his female counterpart (cat. 223)
convey not strength but weariness; has a more passive expression that
the pronounced overbite adds to the could be transformed by the simian
goofy effect.
mimicry of an actor. Monkey masks
The comic features of the usobuki were worn in various kyógen plays
mask (cat. 220) — bulbous nose, but were also used in the no play
goggling eyes, and pursed lips — were Arashiyama, in which an entire family
well suited for depicting humorous of monkeys, including a son and
222
roles of minor spirits, such as the daughter, appear on stage. JTC
mosquito spirit in Sumo Wrestling with
a Mosquito (Ka zumo). The word
usobuki has connotations of "feigning
ignorance," but probably meant "to
let out a long breath for no particular
purpose." This figure indeed seems
to be letting out an involuntary gasp
as he ponders his present, no doubt
preposterous, predicament. JTC

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