"Nô" theatre mask, "ikari tenjin" ·  Japan · ID: 3045060

Description

wood, gypsum, colour pigments,
The name “tenjin” refers to Sugawara no Michizane, an important statesman and literary figure of the 9th century. A conspiracy drove the almighty state chancellor into exile, where he died in grief. When, after his death, the capital was hit by droughts, floods and epidemics, it was thought to recognize the punishment for the slanders committed against the deserving statesman. From then on he was identified in popular belief with the god of thunder.

Michizane has often been glorified in art and literature, and even the “Nô” theater has given way to the adoration of the legendary poet-chancellor.

The object “Nô” theatre mask, “ikari tenjin” with the object ID 3045060 was last part of the auction 90.I Tribal Art and 90.II Contemporary Native American Art at November 17, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 21.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Asian art.

Comparing literature

Perzynski, Friedrich, Japanische Masken, Zweiter Band, Berlin, Leipzig 1925, p. 187, ill. c)