Tendou　天童

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Lit. Heavenly Youth, also Warabemai 童舞 (Dancing Child). A dance mask representing a young boy with parted hair and soft round face probably used in *bugaku 舞楽, though sometimes classified as a gyoudou mask, gyoudoumen 行道面, since it is used in Buddhist temple festivals such as the kuyou-e 供養会 and mukaekou 迎構, which have been held at least since the late 12c. Its use before the 12c is unclear; no bugaku dance exists under the title of Tendou, and the term Warabemai describes a number of bugaku dances featuring children, like the butterfly dance Kochou 胡蝶, none of which uses masks. The serious concentrated expression, closed mouth and balanced features are reminiscent of the statues of Prince Shoutoku (see *Shoutoku Taishizou 聖徳太子像) at the age of seven, example in Houryuuji 法隆寺, Nara. The hair suggests the fashions of the 7c and 8c. Masks that may have been used in bugaku include, one dated 1279 at Konda Hachimanguu 誉田八幡宮, and two at Masumida Jinja 真清田神社 in Aichi prefecture, dated 1211. Other well-known Kamakura period, examples can be found in Ishiteji 石手寺, Ehime prefecture, and Yoneyamadera 米山寺, Hiroshima prefecture.

REFERENCES:

*bugakumen 舞楽面

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