Ounintei　皇仁庭

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

A dance piece in bugaku 舞楽 and the mask (*bugakumen 舞楽面) representing a serious, stern young man. A quiet dance (hiramai 平舞) of the Right (u-no-mai 右ノ舞) originating in Korea (Komagaku 高麗楽), performed by four people dancing in unison and wearing layered robes (kasaneshouzoku 襲装束) with a bird helmet (torikabuto 鳥甲). Of very early date, the dance is reputed to have been performed at the coronation of Emperor Nintoku 仁徳 in 313 by the erudite Korean master, Wani 王仁, making it one of the first foreign dances to be introduced into Japan. It retained its celebratory function and was incorportated into the the coming-to-manhood ceremonies of the crown prince. A firmly closed mouth and stern but not unkind expression characterize the mask. A medallion at mid-forehead centers the concentrated expression and suggests connections with *Chikyuu 地久 and *Taishoutoku 退走禿. A fine example is the property of Tamukeyama Hachimanguu 手向山八幡宮, dated to 1042. Four other white masks of the same date are housed at Toudaiji 東大寺 and another inscribed by Inshou 印勝 dated 1185 is at Kasuga Taisha 春日大社.

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