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Kyōgen mask of a fox in the guise of the Buddhist priest (Hakuzōsu), from the play "Tsurigitsune" (fox hunting)
Kyōgen mask of a fox in the guise of the Buddhist priest (Hakuzōsu), from the play "Tsurigitsune" (fox hunting)

Kyōgen mask of a fox in the guise of the Buddhist priest (Hakuzōsu), from the play "Tsurigitsune" (fox hunting)

Original Language Title狂言面（『釣狐』より、白蔵主）
CultureJapanese
Datelate 18th century
MediumCarved and painted wood
DimensionsOverall: 8 × 5 3/8 inches (20.32 × 13.64 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: acquired through the Earl Morse Fund
Object numberF63-56
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Move around the masks to see how they catch and reflect the light. On stage, a masked actor changes positions carefully, expressing the character’s shifting emotion through the interaction between the mask, light, and shadow.

Actors put on their masks just before going on stage. At that moment, they conceal their identities and take on different personas, whether animal, deity, demon, or spirit.

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