usobuki　空吹

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Also usofuki, sometimes written 嘯吹. Lit. bluffer or whistler; a humorous mask used in kyougen 狂言 plays. Characterized by pursed lips, sunken cheeks, bulging round crossed eyes and a furrowed forehead, usobuki appears to be blowing with all his might. This comic mask is used for a wide range of kyougen roles, particularly the spirits of plants, fish and insects, including ants and cicada. Usobuki represents mushrooms in the play Mushrooms KUSABIRA 茸, a scarecrow in The Melon Thief URINUSUBITO 瓜盗人, a mosquito in Wrestling with a Mosquito KAZUMOU 蚊相撲, and the spirit of pine resin in The Spirit of Pine Resin MATSUYANI 松脂. In the play A Sinner with References YAO 八尾, usobuki is used to play a sinner on his way to hell.

REFERENCES:

*kyougenmen 狂言面, *noumen 能面

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NOTES:

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