Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Japan, Room 45, The Toshiba Gallery

Ryo-O

Mask
1450-1550 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This mask belongs to an ancient tradition of masked drama and court dance known as Bugaku. It would have been worn by the character playing Ryo-O (also known as Ranryo-O), the Dragon King and is carved from a single piece of wood. The dragon was carved from several pieces that were then joined together. The mask is coloured with natural paints and pigments and the details of the eyebrows and moustache have been added with tufts of white horse hair. The moveable eyes are attached to a metal rod to which the chin is also attached by leather thongs. The eyes were originally gilded with the surrounding area painted bright red. The dangling chin-cup is lacquered in the rich orange-red colour of negoro lacquer, and may be a later replacement. The magnificent dragon wraps around the head of the mask with his chest raised, the mouth open to reveal his teeth and tongue, and the small wings spread wide in a threatening attitude. The head and body are painted green, with details of the scaly body in black; the chest and under-belly are highlighted in red. The face, eyes and teeth are gilded with details in red and black. There are two curly gilt metal whiskers.

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Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Ryo-O (generic title)
  • Ranryo-O (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved and painted hinoki wood
Brief description
Bugaku mask of the Dragon King (Ryō-ō), carved and painted wood with horse hair, showing a threatening dragon wraps around the head of the mask, Japan, 1450-1550.
Dimensions
  • Mask only height: 19.8cm
  • With dragon height: 27.2cm
  • Width: 20.8cm
Style
Gallery label
Bugaku mask of the Dragon King (Ryō-ō) 1450–1550 Bugaku is a ritual dance that was imported to Japan from mainland Asia in the late 8th century. It was performed at Shintō shrines, Buddhist temples and the imperial court. The dragon is a water deity in Japanese tradition and the Ryō-ō mask was used in ceremonies performed to bring rain during periods of drought. Carved, lacquered and painted cypress, with silk and horsehair Museum no. W.516-1922 (04/11/2015)
Subject depicted
Summary
This mask belongs to an ancient tradition of masked drama and court dance known as Bugaku. It would have been worn by the character playing Ryo-O (also known as Ranryo-O), the Dragon King and is carved from a single piece of wood. The dragon was carved from several pieces that were then joined together. The mask is coloured with natural paints and pigments and the details of the eyebrows and moustache have been added with tufts of white horse hair. The moveable eyes are attached to a metal rod to which the chin is also attached by leather thongs. The eyes were originally gilded with the surrounding area painted bright red. The dangling chin-cup is lacquered in the rich orange-red colour of negoro lacquer, and may be a later replacement. The magnificent dragon wraps around the head of the mask with his chest raised, the mouth open to reveal his teeth and tongue, and the small wings spread wide in a threatening attitude. The head and body are painted green, with details of the scaly body in black; the chest and under-belly are highlighted in red. The face, eyes and teeth are gilded with details in red and black. There are two curly gilt metal whiskers.
Collection
Accession number
W.516-1922

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Record createdMarch 17, 2003
Record URL
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