Masks and Costumes of the Noh Play Ground Spider (Tsuchigumo)
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Noh Mask: "Shikami"
Edo period, 17th–18th centuryJapanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 9
June 24, 2025 (Tue) - August 24, 2025 (Sun)The noh play Ground Spider is known for the dramatic scenes of the spider throwing a web on stage to attack a samurai.
The spider wears a demon mask with a furious expression and a powerful costume with generous use of gold threads. The material and the motif of the costumes reflect the characters of the various roles.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Noh Costume ("Karaori") with Chrysanthemums, Eulalia Grass, and Butterflies | Edo period, 18th century | I-2001 | ||||
| Highlight | Noh Costume ("Atsuita Karaori") with Chrysanthemum Vines | Passed down by the Uesugi clan | Edo period, 18th century | I-2866 | |||
| Highlight | Noh Mask: "Shikami" | Edo period, 17th–18th century | C-129 | ||||
| Highlight | Noh Costume ("Atsuita") with Hammer Wheels and Fish Scales | Passed down by the Konparu troupe, Nara | Edo period, 18th century | I-3217 | |||
| Highlight | "The Noh Play "Ground Spider"" from Volume 3 of "Illustrated Noh and" Kyōgen "Plays" | Artist unknown | Edo period, 18th century | A-10185-3 | First period: June 24–July 21; second period: July 23–August 24 |