Terms and conditions of use
Noh mask, Chūjō
(Nōmen Chūjō 能面 中将)
(17th century-18th century)
- Medium
- pigments, ground shell and animal glue on Cypress (Hinoki), silk thread cord
- Measurements
- 20.0 × 13.2 × 7.0 cm
- Place/s of Execution
- Japan
- Accession Number
- 2011.351
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by Allan Myers AO and Maria Myers AO, 2011
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation - Gallery location
- Special Exhibitions Gallery
Ground Level, NGV International - About this work
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This otoko-men (male human mask) takes its name from the talented Heian-period (794–1185) poet Ariwara no Narihira, on whom the mask was modelled. Narihira was a chūjō (lieutenant-general), born into a family of imperial blood. He was reputedly as ardent a lover as he was a poet, and famously had an affair with the emperor’s consort. In Noh theatre Chūjō masks are used to portray noblemen or gallant but ultimately doomed warriors.