Japanese Mask Old Meiji Period - Bitchu Noh Kagura 開運の備中神楽天狗面

Kagura mask (Kaguramen) is a mask used in Kagura, a traditional Japanese performing art. Kagura is a dance performed as part of Shinto rituals and festivals, expressing gratitude and prayers to the gods. Kagura masks are used by performers to portray gods, spirits, demons, animals, and other specific roles, characterized by their unique style and expressive power. Bitchu Kagura masks are based on the masks of the gods that appear in Bitchu Kagura, a Shinto dance passed down in the Bitchu region of western Okayama Prefecture. Bitchu Kagura consists of religious dances and theatrical dances that incorporate myths and plays, and is still popular today as a way to pray for a good harvest. It has also been designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan. Representative masks include Tengu (long-nosed goblins), Oni (demons), Okina (old men), Hime (princesses), and Shishi (lions). These masks have sacred meaning and serve to connect the world of gods and humans. By wearing a Kagura mask, performers become one with the gods or spirits, bringing their presence into the physical world. Kagura masks are an important part of traditional Japanese culture and religious rituals, captivating many with their beauty and mystique. Tengu are one of the most well-known yokai in Japan. Tengu's face is bright red, with a high nose, much like a monkey, very tall, with a pair of wings, wearing monk's robes, high-toothed hooves, holding a round fan and a hammer, such an image. According to legend, they live in the deep mountains, possess supernatural powers and superpowers, and have the power to make humans horrible. A supernatural creature that inhabits the heavens or deep mountains. Born from the spiritual power of the mountain gods, it combines the beliefs of wandering spirits such as grudges and guardian spirits, and is also a manifestation of illusions in the guise of ascetic practitioners. It appears in the form of a mountain ascetic, with a red face, a high nose, wings, long claws on its hands and feet, and holds a vajra staff, a sword, and a fan. It is said to possess divine powers and the ability to fly freely. There is also a strict hierarchy among the Tengu. The great Tengu and the Tengu have a higher status. In addition, there are the crow Tengu, who are the subordinates of the Tengu and the great Tengu. Yamabushi Tengu printed and more. Tengu symbolizes strength, and wearing a Tengu mask means that one must have powerful combat power to match it. Similarly, the Tengu mask is also a status symbol, giving people a powerful deterrent, making them understand that this person is not easy to mess with. In addition, as a messenger of the enshrined deity, it is said to possess great power and will immediately fly away to eliminate any misfortune that may befall the worshiper, and it is said to have the power to ward off disasters and bring good fortune.