Tengu Masks

About

The History and Culture of Tengu Masks What are tengu? Japanese folklore and mythology consist of many legendary and magical creatures. We often refer to them as “yokai” if they are supernatural and “kami” if they are a sort of Shinto god. However, one creature can be regarded as both “yokai” and “kami” and they are called “ tengu .” Tengu are quite popular when it comes to Japanese folklore and have very distinguishable characteristics to help identify them, even for those in the Western world. The origin of the tengu, like many other aspects of Japanese and Asian cultures, derives from Chinese literature. The term “tengu” is often thought to have come from the ancient Chinese creature “ tiāngǒu. ” The tengu are traditionally depicted as a mixture of human, bird, and monkey qualities. SarutahikoŌkami, a deity in the Japanese religion of Shinto, is considered to be the first model of tengu and created the standard from which the tengu images are derived from. What do the tengu masks mean? The tengu are often presented in many different forms but have many specific features that set them apart from other folklore. The tengu are often red with angry expressions on their face. But the most popular and distinguishable feature is the long red nose that the tengu has. Tengu are fearsome demi-gods that would protect mountainous areas. These creatures have been represented in Japan as masks. What are tengu masks used for? Tengu masks are used for Noh stage plays and certain Shinto festivals. Japanese Buddhism and Shintoism have co-existed for so long that many of the spirits and minor deities in the two religions have started to mingle. The primary Shintō rites and festivals are for celebrating the new year, baby birth, coming of age, planting and harvest, weddings, and groundbreaking ceremonies for brand new buildings. Death, funerals, and graveyards involve Buddhist rituals, not Shintō. Noh , the oldest surviving Japanese dramatic form, combines elements of dance, drama,