Noh Masks and Costumes for Lady Aoi
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Noh Mask:Deigan
Branded with the seal Tenkaichi Kawachi, Passed down by the Konparu school, Nara, Edo period, 17th century (Important Cultural Property)Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 9
October 15, 2025 (Wed) - November 30, 2025 (Sun)The Noh play Lady Aoi (Aoi no Ue) is based on a chapter in the literary classic The Tale of Genji. In the first part of the play, the disembodied spirit of one of Genji’s lovers, named Lady Rokujō, is played by an actor wearing a mask with golden eyes.
The use of gold tells the audience the character has supernatural abilities. In the second part of the play, Lady Rokujō’s spirit attempts to kill Genji’s wife Aoi. The actor playing the spirit changes to the horned hannya mask to show how resentment and grief have transformed Lady Rokujō’s spirit. The costumes and masks in the Noh version of the story are richly imbued with subtle meanings.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Noh Mask: "Deigan" | Branded with the seal “Tenkaichi Kawachi”, Passed down by the Konparu school, Nara | Edo period, 17th century | C-1538 | ||
| Highlight | Noh Costume ("Karaori") with Triple Hexagons, Courtly Carriages, and Books | Passed down by the Uesugi clan | Edo period, 18th century | I-2034 | |||
| Noh Costume ("Karaori") with Mist, Chrysanthemums, and Fan Papers | Passed down by the Konparu school, Nara | Edo period, 18th century | I-3521 | ||||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Noh Mask: "Hannya" | Passed down by the Konparu school, Nara | Edo period, 17th century | C-1555 | ||
| Noh Costume ("Surihaku") with Triangles | Edo period, 18th century | I-2875 | |||||
| Highlight | Illustrated Scenes from Noh and Kyōgen Plays | Artist unknown | Edo period, 18th century | A-10185-1 |