Taiko　太孤

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Old Persian man Taikofu 太孤父 and young Persian boy Taikoji 太孤児, two types of gigaku masks *gigakumen 伎楽面 used for the roles of the Lonely Widower and his sons in the gigaku skits popular in Japan (7-12c), Taikofu, accompanied by two children, Taikoji, mimed praying to Buddha. The mask depicts an old man's face lined with wrinkles and melancholy. Some of the Taikofu masks in the *Shousouin 正倉院 have elongated heads with wooden hats, although the one in Houryuuji 法隆寺 has a normal shaped head. Many of the Taikofu masks have implanted hair. The Taikoji masks representing his accompanying boys are similar to *Shishiko 師子児 masks, except that they lack the vigor of the Lion Trainer.

REFERENCES:

EXTERNAL LINKS:

NOTES:

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.　No reproduction or republication without written permission. 掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。