Tsuina mask of a supernatural guardian spirit

Published by the renowned mask scholar Yasuo Nakamura who included this mask in his two-volume reference work "Komen no Bi" (古面の美), which focuses primarily on old folk masks.

He identifies it as the mask of supernatural guardian spirit because of the configuration of the tongue, which indicates the persona of Tsuina masks used to drive away evil spirits. He acknowledges that at first glance the mask looks like a humorous character for Kagura, but closer inspection showed important similarities to other Tsuina masks.

" Number 105. Sizes: 21.6 x 13.8 cm.

At first glance, it may not appear to be a medieval man's mask, and may look as if dating from the early modern period, but in fact it dates from the medieval times.

The smiling eyes, the swollen cheeks reminiscent of a "Hyottoko (in Japanese)" the nose with its pointy end and its upturned tip when viewed from the side, and the mouth with its upturned corners are comical.
However perhaps the most distinctive feature of this mask is the slack sticking-out tongue.
Such crafting is not only found in our country (Japan), but also in the masks of many Southeast and South Asian countries, as well as in the lion statues of Asia Minor further to the west. They are all forms with evil and wicked characters. There is no way of knowing what the purpose of this mask might have been, but it is possible that it contains an element of laughter, and that the tongue, as in medieval masks of ancient times, was carved to repel evil spirits.

Therefore, I ventured to include this in the generic category of Spirit Masks. The material is cypress and the reverse side is black wiped lacquer. Most of the surface has been removed, but the original colour is brown, and white clay remains on the eyes and dentition (teeth lines). There are six holes in the top of the head, through which pieces of cloth would have been attached and hung down to the back of the head. "

The essay is published in the book:
English Japanese
Title “Komen no bi; Chusei kamen no bijutsushi teki kenkyu”
(The Beauty of Old Masks: Art Historical Research on Medieval Masks) 古面の美：

中世仮面の美術史的研究

Author Nakamura Yasuo (1919-1996) 中村保雄
Publisher Shinshindo Publishers 駸々堂出版株式会社
Date of publication 1989 (Heisei 1) 平成元年
Location Tokyo 東京