Red Hannya Mask

赤般若 (aka-hannya): "the red hannya."

Noh sorts its jealous women by how far they've turned. The namanari, half-formed, has small horns just breaking through. The hannya, also called chūnari, the middle stage, has full horns and a fanged grin, though the forehead is still knotted with grief. Past it comes the ja, the serpent, fully turned, the face of a woman who has stopped being one. Which mask a play calls for tells the audience how far she has gone.

Glossy red and black, with gold horns, gold eyes and gold teeth that flash under any light. Pointed ears frame the face, fangs fill the mouth, and a tag on the forehead reads 封印 (fūin), "sealed." A black braided cord knots under the chin.

The tag on its forehead says sealed, so hang it by the front door and let the gold horns and teeth flash at whoever walks in. Over a black tee it photographs well for a festival or a con, and it leads any row of the other hannya masks you put it in.

• Type: decorative hannya mask, full face
• Material: resin
• Colors: glossy red and black, gold horns, eyes and teeth
• Details: pointed ears, fangs, seal tag on the forehead
• Cord: black braided cord, knotted under the chin
• Use: display, cosplay, costume and photos