Demon mask

Object Details

• Label

  This long-nosed red mask represents a tengu. With both bird and human attributes, tengu often are depicted wearing the garments of yamabushi, ascetic Buddhist monks who acquire magical powers. Despite this association, tengu were connected to malicious acts toward Buddhist priests, such as kidnapping them and tying them in trees, driving them mad by implanting impure thoughts, or tricking them into consuming excrement. Masks representing the red-faced tengu were used in shrine dances.

• Provenance

  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 2003

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Note 1, Ann Yonemura, September 30, 2003, in the object record.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Religious Art of Japan (December 18, 2002 to January 4, 2015)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mrs. Selma Janow

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Collected by Seymour J. Janow and gifted in his memory by his family

• Type

  Mask

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1600s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Janow, Selma

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Momoyama period (1573 - 1615), Wood, Demon, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Lacquer

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Masks