Hand-sized bear mask, Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture Noto Province This is a mask of the Gojinjo Yakuyoke Mask! It is a ceramic mask like a plain tile. How about it for warding off evil or as interior decoration? 【Material】Ceramic I have kept it at home. Thank you. ★ Noh mask. It is a gorgeous work colored with gofun (white pigment) and gold leaf. 20.5cm x 15.5cm, in generally good condition. There is a signature of the artist on the back. "Beshi" means "to close the mouth and take a deep breath to store power in the body." As the name suggests, this mask expresses the immense power to confront demons. Noh is a traditional Japanese performing art with a rich history dating back centuries. It is a highly stylized theatrical form that combines elements of dance, music, poetry, and drama. At the heart of the Noh stage are the elaborate masks worn by the performers, called Noh masks. The origins of Noh can be traced back to ancient Japanese performing arts, particularly Kagura (ritual dance and music) and Gagaku (court music and dance). These traditional performing arts incorporated dance and music into religious and court ceremonies. Sarugaku, the predecessor of Noh, was born in the Nara period (710-794) and the Heian period (794-1185). The performances of Sarugaku included comedic elements, acrobatics, and dance. Over time, more serious and sophisticated themes were incorporated. The Noh we know today began to take shape in the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Kan'ami Kiyotsugu and his son Zeami Motokiyo played an important role in refining and formalizing Noh performance, systematizing its composition, music, and movements.