Hannya
Encyclopedia
- The mothMothA moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
genusGenusIn biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Hannya is now considered a junior synonym of HabrosyneHabrosyneHabrosyne is a genus of moth belonging to the Drepaninae family.-Species:*Habrosyne albipuncta **Habrosyne albipuncta angulifera *Habrosyne armata Moore, 1882*Habrosyne aurorina...
.
The Hannya (般若) mask is a mask used in Japanese Noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
theater, representing a jealous female demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
or serpent. It possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a leering mouth split from ear to ear.
Origin of the name
The name hannya (般若) is a Sino-Japanese word for prajna or wisdom. One tradition states that this name was given to this mask because it was the name of an artist monk Hannya-bô who is said to have perfected its creation. Another explanation is that Perfection of Wisdom sutrasPrajnaparamita
Prajñāpāramitā in Buddhism, means "the Perfection of Wisdom." The word Prajñāpāramitā combines the Sanskrit words prajñā with pāramitā . Prajñāpāramitā is a central concept in Mahāyāna Buddhism and its practice and understanding are taken to be indispensable elements of the Bodhisattva Path...
and their variations were considered to be particularly effective against female demons. An alternate explanation is that the artist would need a great deal of wisdom in order to create this mask.
Characteristics
The Hannya mask is used in many noh and kyōgenKyogen
is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater. It developed alongside Noh, was performed along with Noh as an intermission of sorts between Noh acts, on the same Noh stage, and retains close links to Noh in the modern day; therefore, it is sometimes designated Noh-kyōgen...
Japanese plays, as well as in Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
ritual kagura
Kagura
- Fictional characters :*Kagura Tsuchimiya, the protagonist of Ga-rei*Kagura, an InuYasha character*Kagura Sohma , a Fruits Basket character*Kagura, an Azumanga Daioh character*Ten'nōzu Kagura, a Speed Grapher character...
dances. The Hannya mask portrays the souls of women who have become demons due to obsession or jealousy. Plays in which a person may wear the hannya mask include Aoi no Ue
Aoi no Ue (play)
Aoi no Ue is a Noh play based on an episode in the Tale of Genji and named for Lady Aoi, one of the novel's characters. It is an example of the fourth category of "miscellaneous" Noh plays. Aoi no Ue was the first of many Noh plays based on the Tale of Genji...
and Dōjōji
Dōjōji (Noh play)
' is a famous Noh play of the fourth category , of unknown authorship. Traditionally it is said to be written by Kan'ami and revised by Zeami, while others assign it to Kanze Nobumitsu; there are many variations in different texts, and a popular adaptation for kabuki theatre...
; its use in these two plays, two of the most famous of the Noh repertoire, and its distinctive and frightening appearance make it one of the most recognizable Noh masks.
The Hannya mask is said to be dangerous and Erotic but also sorrowful and tormented displaying the complexity of human emotions. When the actor looks straight ahead, the mask appears frightening and angry; when tilted slightly down, the face of the demon appears to be sorrowful, as though crying. The oldest hannya mask is dated 1558.
Hannya masks appear in various skin tones: a white mask indicates a woman of aristocratic status (such as Rokujō in Aoi no Ue), a red mask depicts a low-class woman (seen in Dōjōji), and the darkest red depicts true demons (revealed after appearing as women, as in Momijigari and Kurozuka.)
Plays associated with Hannya
- Aoi no UeAoi no Ue (play)Aoi no Ue is a Noh play based on an episode in the Tale of Genji and named for Lady Aoi, one of the novel's characters. It is an example of the fourth category of "miscellaneous" Noh plays. Aoi no Ue was the first of many Noh plays based on the Tale of Genji...
- worn by the Lady Rokujô in her second-half appearance as a demon. - DōjōjiDōjōji (Noh play)' is a famous Noh play of the fourth category , of unknown authorship. Traditionally it is said to be written by Kan'ami and revised by Zeami, while others assign it to Kanze Nobumitsu; there are many variations in different texts, and a popular adaptation for kabuki theatre...
- can be worn by the dancing woman in her second-half appearance as a snake, though the Shinja (真蛇) mask is also used. - Kurozuka (known in the Kanze school as Adachigahara) - worn by the spinning woman of Adachigahara after she is revealed to be a demon.
- MomijigariMomijigari (play)or Maple Viewing is a Japanese shosagoto play, usually performed in kabuki and noh. It was also the first narrative ever filmed in Japan. It was written by Kanze Nobumitsu during the Muromachi period...
- can be worn by the noblewoman after she is revealed to be a demon.
In popular culture
- Hannya is a fictional character in the popular manga Rurouni KenshinRurouni Kenshin, also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to...
, where he is part of the OniwabanshuOniwabanshuThe was a group of onmitsu government-employed undercover agents established by the 8th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune . They are sometimes described as "ninja".- History :... - In the manga SekireiSekireiis a Japanese manga series by Sakurako Gokurakuin. The manga began serialization in the seinen magazine Young Gangan published by Square Enix in December 2004 and the first tankōbon was released on June 25, 2005, with ten volumes available in Japan as of June 25, 2010...
, Sekirei No.1 Miya Asama is often referred to as "Hannya of the North"", and the spectral image of one often appears behind her when she is intimidating other characters. - The Nosferatu album from 1979, by Hugh CornwellHugh CornwellHugh Alan Cornwell is an English musician and songwriter, best known for being the vocalist and guitarist for the punk/new wave group, The Stranglers, from 1974 to 1990.-Career:...
, then of the Stranglers, features a lifesize Hannya Mask (from K.Kaneko) on the inner sleeve. - Yagyū Jūbei MitsuyoshiYagyū Jūbei MitsuyoshiYagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi is one of the most famous and romanticized of the samurai in Japan's feudal era.Very little is known about the actual life of Yagyū Mitsuyoshi as the official records of his life are very sparse. Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi grew up in his family's ancestral lands, Yagyū no Sato,...
of the manga The Yagyu Ninja ScrollsThe Yagyu Ninja Scrollsis an 11-volume manga series written by Masaki Segawa and first published in Japan by Kodansha in 2005.Like Masaki Segawa's first manga Basilisk, The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls is based on a novel from Futaro Yamada's Ninpōchō series and can therefore be considered a sequel to Basilisk, especially as...
wears a hannya mask while helping the Hori clan women exact their revenge. - In the Blue Exorcist anime, in the second opening "In My World" by Japanese rock band ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, there is a Hannya mask at the very beginning of the intro.