Kagura mask, demon type

Anonymous

A kagura mask representing an unidentified local demon. Kagura (Literally, "god-entertainment") refers to a specific type of Shinto theatrical dance with roots that predate those of Nō.

Once strictly a ceremonial art derived from kami'gakari (Literally, "oracular divination"), kagura has evolved in many directions over the span of more than a millennium. Today it is very much a living tradition, with rituals tied to the rhythms of the agricultural calendar.