NIPPON Kichi - 日本吉

2007/6/18

能面 猩々 Noumen Shoujou Shoujou Noh Mask

Jp En


Shoujou Noh Mask, used in the Noh play called “Shoujou”, represents a legendary creature in China. The mask has a reddish complexion illustrating that he is drunk. His smiling face with his eyes slanting downwards has the bewitching expression of an goblin. It is a unique mask in the Noh plays because comic elements are quite rare.
   In the play, a man named Koufuu, who was a dutiful son and was living in Kinzan, had a dream in which he had a premonition that he was going to be wealthy. Following the premonition, he opened a liquor store, which became prosperous. The store had a strange customer who visited everyday and whose face did not change color no matter how much he drank. When Koufuu asked the customer who he was, he revealed he was Shoujou, a goblin who lived in a sea in China and loved drinking. After he left, Koufuu, who was stunned to know his identity, prepared bottles of sake to present to the elf and waited for him by the river. Shoujou came back and they drank together filling each other’s cup. After that, Shoujou  gave Koufuu a special sake which ensures long life and never runs out no matter how much is consumed. It’s a celebratory play.

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Shoujou Noh Mask




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