Japanese Batou Mask

-----Description-----

Batou (抜頭) Mask is a Traditional Bugaku Court Dance Mask.
The Batō mask is a rare and intense feature of bugaku, the ancient Japanese imperial court dance tradition that’s been performed for more than 1,200 years.

What Is the Batō Mask?

It’s worn in a solo performance called hashirimai (“running dance”), part of the Right Side (uho) repertoire of bugaku. The dance is known for its speed and physicality, and its origin story points to a Brahmin performer from India, highlighting bugaku’s deeply international history.

Design & Appearance:

• Expression: A fierce red face, full of tension, meant to channel urgency and strength.

• Hair Detail: Older versions used blue cords as hair, which the dancer would dramatically flip forward and run their fingers through during the final moments. Many newer masks skip this detail.

• Craft: Traditionally carved by Buddhist sculptors, Batō masks are bold and exaggerated, built to stand out on vast palace stages.

Symbolism & Story:

The meaning behind Batō varies across historical records. That ambiguity is part of its pull: 

• One version tells of a man who kills a beast to avenge his father.
• Another features a white horse that defeats a deadly serpent.
• A third follows a desperate hunt to recover a father’s body.

What ties them together are themes of duty, loss, and raw emotion—mirrored in the mask’s charged design.

Historical Significance:

Batō and its mask have stayed part of imperial performance since the 8th century. Surviving examples date back to the Heian period (1173), showing just how long it’s held a place in Japan’s cultural memory.

About Bugaku Masks

Bugaku masks are essential to gagaku and bugaku, Japan’s oldest court music and dance traditions. They range from human-like to supernatural, and sculptors from elite lineages, such as the Kei school crafted many. Their exaggerated features help performers convey character and emotion, even within bugaku’s highly stylized and formal structure.

Material: Wood

Sizing: Please see the pictures for sizing.

Condition: Please note that all the masks listed are old and have been used by Japanese people. This gives the items various weathering and imperfections. You can see the quality of the items in the photos.

You will receive the item in the photo.

Shipping: ***PLEASE NOTE: When ordering, please include a contact telephone number for the courier shipping documents. We must ship with a telephone number.

All items shipped via Japan Post or Yamato Courier and include a tracking number.

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost.

These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine these additional costs before bidding or buying.

Returns: Returns are only accepted on items that Japan Post or Yamato Courier has damaged.

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Tengu Masks

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