Sacred culture

Mask and Jpanese culture

We see masks in numerous parts of Japanese culture.


~Buraku~ A kind of dance performed in Japanese court.

A kind of dance performed in Japanese court.

In Heian era, the nobility enjoyed graceful theatergoings called MIYABI.

In the 9th century, Buraku came from China and was played in Court the masks on.
In Japanese Court, Kasuga Shinto shrine, Shitennouji Buddhist temple and Itsukushima Shinto shrine.
Even today, it is played as a traditional entertainment in Toudaiji temple is a place where the mask history begins.

Toudaizi temple

todaiji

Toudaiji temple is a place where the mask history begins.

Giraku mask’s history starts with the temple’s Restoration ceremony. In Toudaiji temple and Syousouin, there are masks which are said to be the oldest in all over the world.

Noh-gaku masks

Noh

High spirits are expressed through the masks.

Noh-gaku started in the 10th century and it has long been regarded as representative of traditional Japanese entertainments.
Noh masks are important part of Noh-gaku, Noh called a mask drama.
It expresses deeply the sense of Japanese beauty and spirit, now acted in the all over the world as a traditional entertainment.