Beshimi mask
A finely carved large Ho no men (gift or donation hanging mask to a shrine) in the form of a Beshimi or closed mouth frowning demon. Very good example of a Hon no men with a quiet and pleasant facial expression. Carved in a harder than normal Japanese Cypress wood (Hinoki), with hawk feather style gauging (carving) on the back to indicate skill and more refined carving. The mask was never meant to be worn, but rather to be hung in a shrine to ward off evil spirits. A faint inscription in black sumi (ink) in three Kanji (characters) gives the donor’s name on the top back of the mask. This mask dates to the 18th century. There is no indication of previously having had gesso or lacquer applied.
- Provenance
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To 2003
Seymour J. Janow, Washington, DC, acquired in Japan, to 2003 [1]From 2003
Freer Gallery of Art, given by the family of Seymour J. Janow in 2003Notes:
[1] According to Curatorial Note 1, Ann Yonemura, September 30, 2003, in the object record.
- Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)
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Mrs. Selma Janow
- Description
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A finely carved large Ho no men (gift or donation hanging mask to a shrine) in the form of a Beshimi or closed mouth frowning demon. Very good example of a Hon no men with a quiet and pleasant facial expression. Carved in a harder than normal Japanese Cypress wood (Hinoki), with hawk feather style gauging (carving) on the back to indicate skill and more refined carving. The mask was never meant to be worn, but rather to be hung in a shrine to ward off evil spirits. A faint inscription in black sumi (ink) in three Kanji (characters) gives the donor's name on the top back of the mask. This mask dates to the 18th century. There is no indication of previously having had gesso or lacquer applied.
- Inscription(s)
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1. (Jerry Solomon, independent appraiser, 12 April 2003) A faint inscription in black sumi (ink) in three Kanji (characters) gives the donor's name on the top back of the mask.
- Label
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The use of masks in dance, court ritual, processions, and religious ceremonies expanded and flourished under the patronage of the Japanese imperial court during the seventh and eighth centuries, when a wide variety of performance, dance, and musical forms reached Japan from Korea, China, Southeast and West Asia. The elaborate carved and polychromed wood masks for these performances were probably produced by the sculptors of Buddhist icons, but in later periods, mask carving became a specialized skill that was often fostered within families.
This mask is of the type known as beshimi, for its tightly closed mouth. Beshimi is a demon who usually appears in dance-dramas regarding a fierce but ultimately benevolent being. The simple carving of this piece identifies it with a rural context, probably for use in conjunction with local shrine or agricultural festivals.
- Collection Area(s)
- Japanese Art
- Web Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- SI Usage Statement
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Usage Conditions Apply
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CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)
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Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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