What we have here is a Yamabushi Tengu mask used in the typically comedic Kyogen acts performed as the sort of intermissions between Noh acts. Kyogen rarely uses masks (or props, or stage sets for that matter) unless the character was an animal or a god. A Tengu is sometimes both; the literal translation is heavenly dogs and since they lived in the woods they were sometimes worshipped as Shinto mountain Kami (gods). Tengu were originally thought of as birds of prey and the human forms were depicted as having beaks, which has evolved over time into the huge protuberances we now see. Yamabushi are mountain hermits that were imbued with supernatural powers and martial arts skills. Primarily following Shugendou, a mixture of the esoteric Buddhist form of Shingon, and Shinto. So, mountain Kami and mountain warrior ascetics form a great mix, and can often be confused, which is how I first learned about Tengu, watching Kage no Gundan (look for Shadow Warriors), a ninja series from the eighties. Anyway, no matter how you came across them, folktales, theater or ninjas, Tengu are cool and so is this mask. 1880’s, silk hair, beautiful nose, museum quality, what more could you want?

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