Lions, Witches, and Happy Old Men: Some Parallels Between Balinese and Japanese Ritual Masks

Title of article (Indonesian)

Singa, Penyihir, dan Orang Tua yang Bahagia: Beberapa Kesejajaran Antara Topeng Ritual Bali dan Jepang

Title of article (Balinese)

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Original title language

English

Title (other local language)

Author(s)

Margaret Coldiron Margaret Coldiron

Subjects

balinese
masks
japanese
choreographic

Title of Journal

Asian Theater Journal

Volume and Issue number

22,2

Date of Publication

Page Numbers

227-248

Link to whole article

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/188933

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Abstract

In English

The visual and choreographic parallels between Japanese and Balinese mask traditions are striking, and, though the exact interrelationship between masks of these two cultures cannot be proven with historically verifiable data, juxtaposition of the similar genres is useful for understanding mask dance. The masks discussed are the dog/lions Shishi ( Japan) and Barong (Bali), the witch-like Hannya ( Japan) and Rangda (Bali), and the sacred old men Okina ( Japan) and Sidha Karya (Bali). Possible links include cultural diffusion and patterns of human perception. However, the visual language in which these mask characters are expressed and the mythology that delineates them probably comes from Indian Tantric models.

In Balinese

In Indonesian

Kesejajaran visual dan koreografi antara topeng tradisional Jepang dan Bali sangat mencolok, dan, meskipun keterkaitan yang tepat antara topeng dari kedua budaya ini tidak dapat dibuktikan dengan data yang dapat diverifikasi secara historis, penjajaran genre serupa berguna untuk memahami tari topeng itu sendiri. Topeng yang dibahas adalah Shishi anjing/singa (Jepang) dan Barong (Bali), Hannya (Jepang) dan Rangda (Bali) yang mirip penyihir, dan orang tua suci Okina (Jepang) dan Sidha Karya (Bali). Pertautan yang mungkin dapat digolongkan sebagai difusi budaya dan perpaduan pola persepsi manusia. Namun, bahasa visual di mana karakter topeng ini diekspresikan dan mitologi yang menggambarkannya mungkin berasal dari model Tantra India.