Ceremonial Bugaku Dance Masks 観世音寺舞楽面

Official explanation

Dance has been a feature of religious ritual since ancient times, and masked-dance performances (Bugaku) at ceremonies (and for the benefit of privileged guests) became an aspect of Japanese society. These dances were performed for visiting dignitaries during the seventh century when the city of Dazaifu was a major center of foreign relations and cultural exchange. The three ceremonial dance masks showcased here—one Ryooh mask and two Nasori masks—were crafted in the thirteenth century.

The facial features of these masks are not of typical Japanese design. The distinctive long face, prominent nose, and bulging eyes added an “international” flavor to dance performances. The Ryooh mask is crested by a winged dragon, whose legs extend below the ears. Similar mask designs have been found in Indonesia but are rarely seen in Japan.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.