The Scariest Antique Japanese Mask Ever!
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Directory: Popular Collectibles: Cultural: Japanese: Pre 1900: Item # 1496366
Directory: Popular Collectibles: Cultural: Japanese: Pre 1900: Item # 1496366
Please refer to our stock # K158 when inquiring.
The Kura
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23 Murasakino Monzen-cho
Kita-ward Kyoto 603-8216
tel.81-75-201-3497
Guest Book
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23 Murasakino Monzen-cho
Kita-ward Kyoto 603-8216
tel.81-75-201-3497
Guest Book
$1,600.00
This ancient and dilapidated mask is ghoulishly frightening. Carved from a single piece of wood, the visage seems to scream with both rage and fear, or is it pain, the brow furrowed and mouth open in a shout. Emaciated lips curl back to reveal three teeth like tombstones framing the orifice. A hole appears in the hollow of the left eye, and the top of the mask is broken open like an egg, as if something might leap out. This goes way beyond the traditional mask, into the realm of Iki-ningyo or living dolls. It is 24 x 15 x 12 cm (roughly 9 x 6 x 5 inches).
Japanese ghost tales and horror stories have a rich and fascinating history that dates back centuries. These stories have evolved and been shaped by various cultural, religious, and historical influences over time. Let's focus on the pre-modern era to explore the origins and development of Japanese ghost tales and horror stories: apan's early ghost tales were influenced by indigenous Shinto beliefs, animism, and the veneration of ancestral spirits. In these tales, spirits were often associated with natural phenomena and specific places. During the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1185) periods, court literature flourished, and stories of supernatural beings, such as yōkai (supernatural creatures), oni (demons), and yūrei (ghosts), started to gain prominence in written works like "The Tale of Genji." Buddhist beliefs and notions of karma influenced the portrayal of spirits and the idea of vengeful ghosts who returned to the living world seeking retribution. "Uji Shūi Monogatari" (Tales of a Raindrop) and "Konjaku Monogatari" (Tales of Times Now Past) are collections of folktales, including ghost stories, from this period. They reflected the belief in the supernatural and the moral consequences of human actions. The medieval period saw the development of various ghost tales, often referred to as "kaidan" or "katakiuchi-mono" (stories of vengeance). During the Edo period traditional Japanese theater, particularly Noh and Kabuki, incorporated ghostly elements into many of their plays. Ghost characters seeking vengeance or resolution were common themes in these performances, making them popular among audiences. Also during this period was a flourishing of ghost-themed art and literature. Throughout these eras, storytelling played a crucial role in passing down ghost tales and horror stories in Japan. It's essential to recognize that Japanese ghost tales and horror stories are deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual beliefs, and their themes often explore concepts of life, death, morality, and the supernatural. They were often used as a means to entertain, educate, and explore societal norms and values. In the later 19th century, Lafcadio Hearn, an Irish-Greek author who emigrated to Japan taking a Japanese name, is credited with introducing Japanese ghost tales to the Western world. In 1904, he published "Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things," a collection of traditional Japanese ghost stories he had translated and adapted in an effort to preserve them before the oral tradition was lost. Many of these pre-modern ghost tales continue to inspire modern Japanese horror literature, movies, and other media.
Japanese ghost tales and horror stories have a rich and fascinating history that dates back centuries. These stories have evolved and been shaped by various cultural, religious, and historical influences over time. Let's focus on the pre-modern era to explore the origins and development of Japanese ghost tales and horror stories: apan's early ghost tales were influenced by indigenous Shinto beliefs, animism, and the veneration of ancestral spirits. In these tales, spirits were often associated with natural phenomena and specific places. During the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1185) periods, court literature flourished, and stories of supernatural beings, such as yōkai (supernatural creatures), oni (demons), and yūrei (ghosts), started to gain prominence in written works like "The Tale of Genji." Buddhist beliefs and notions of karma influenced the portrayal of spirits and the idea of vengeful ghosts who returned to the living world seeking retribution. "Uji Shūi Monogatari" (Tales of a Raindrop) and "Konjaku Monogatari" (Tales of Times Now Past) are collections of folktales, including ghost stories, from this period. They reflected the belief in the supernatural and the moral consequences of human actions. The medieval period saw the development of various ghost tales, often referred to as "kaidan" or "katakiuchi-mono" (stories of vengeance). During the Edo period traditional Japanese theater, particularly Noh and Kabuki, incorporated ghostly elements into many of their plays. Ghost characters seeking vengeance or resolution were common themes in these performances, making them popular among audiences. Also during this period was a flourishing of ghost-themed art and literature. Throughout these eras, storytelling played a crucial role in passing down ghost tales and horror stories in Japan. It's essential to recognize that Japanese ghost tales and horror stories are deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual beliefs, and their themes often explore concepts of life, death, morality, and the supernatural. They were often used as a means to entertain, educate, and explore societal norms and values. In the later 19th century, Lafcadio Hearn, an Irish-Greek author who emigrated to Japan taking a Japanese name, is credited with introducing Japanese ghost tales to the Western world. In 1904, he published "Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things," a collection of traditional Japanese ghost stories he had translated and adapted in an effort to preserve them before the oral tradition was lost. Many of these pre-modern ghost tales continue to inspire modern Japanese horror literature, movies, and other media.