Mask of the "Nuo" opera ·  China · ID: 3048775

Description

wood, colour pigments, rest., base

Aesthetically very pleasing face with beautifully cut eyes and a large laughing mouth. Small pegs indicate an upper lip and whiskers, the eyebrows are marked by finely painted strokes.

This mask was used in performances of the “Nuo” opera, which developed in southern China among the minorities living there (Miao, Dong, Yao, Maonan etc.) at the time of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Its origins can probably be traced back to earlier shamanism and its rites to ward off evil spirits. The purpose of the “Nuo” opera is to drive away devils, diseases and evil influences and to ask for the blessing of the gods.

The number of masks used in a drama ranges from a few dozen to two hundred. Each “Nuo” mask has a fixed name and represents a specific role/character.