I used pencil and felt to do my art. We got to choose an image and write facts about my art.
Hannya masks represent female demons and an oni mask represents a male demon, They generally look the same.
It is not exactly clear when hannya / oni masks were made, but it is believed they were developed in the late 13th century.
The first recovered mask is from 1558.
The different colors of the mask represents status, a mask of white usually mean a person of value or royalty, red depicts a person of low-class and a very dark red mean true demon.
These masks were common traditional japanese theater, Noh Kabuki or Noh Theater, they were also used during Shinto ceremonies. Oni mask are also very popular at japanese festivals.
The masks are meant to represent a person who is overcome with anger or jealousy.
When hannya mask were first made of wood,clay, paper, dry lacquer, and cloth, they were painted natural paint colours.
There are many types of hannya masks there are over 60 different types including ogers, dragons and serpents
Hannya is a Buddist word, meaning wisdom. One story states that the name was derived from the monk who made it Hannya-Bo (般若坊).
As hannya masks are meant to represent someone sorrowful or mad, sometimes both. Supposedly,when the mask is held straight ahead, it looks angry. When the mask is held a little down it looks sad.
Hannya masks are said to bring good luck in Japan and ward off evil.
Hannya masks are a very popular tattoo choice in Japan.
A popular story performed in Noh Theatre is the story of Prince Genji and Princess Aoi. Prince Genji had a mistress named Rokujo. Once Aoi got pregnant, Genji started to ignore Rokujo. Filled with rage she possessed Princess Aoi body and killed her.
There are three different stages of hannya: Namanari being stage one, Namanari hannya still resemble women, Having small horns and using dark magic. Namanari are not completely evil, There is still a chance for them to return to humanity. Chunari is the second stage, where they are mid-level level demons. Honnari is the last stage, where the person turns into a true demon, which is shown by my mask art
By Cassandra.
