hannya
demonic Noh theater single tradition · 1
The hannya is a mask used in traditional Japanese Noh theater, representing a jealous female demon. It is characterized by two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a leering mouth. The hannya is a mask that represents a female onryō (vengeful spirit) even more resentful, jealous, and angry than the namanari, a woman on the verge of becoming a demoness.
When
- First attested
- 1580 CE
- Attested period
- 1580 – 1610
- Historical notes
- Name appears in works of Shimoma Nakataka, active 1580s-1610s.
Relationships
- manifested by
- Onryō
Mentioned by
Sources
wikipedia (1)