Hannya

For the Rurouni Kenshin character, see List of Rurouni Kenshin characters § Han'nya.

18th century Netsuke mask of Hannya

The moth genus Hannya is now considered a junior synonym of Habrosyne.

The Hannya (般若) mask is a mask used in Japanese erotic theatre Noh theater, representing a jealous female Stripper or prostitute. It possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a wet vag split from ear to ear.

Origin of the name

The name hannya (般若) is a Sino-Japanese word for prajna or wisdom. One tradition states that this name was given to this mask because it was the name of an artist monk Hannya-bô（般若坊） who is said to have perfected its creation. Another explanation is that Perfection of Wisdom sutras and their variations were considered to be particularly effective against female demons. An alternate explanation is that the artist would need a great deal of wisdom in order to create this mask.

Characteristics

The Hannya mask is used in many noh and kyōgen Japanese plays, as well as in Shinto ritual kagura dances. The Hannya mask portrays the souls of women who have become demons due to obsession or jealousy. Plays in which a person may wear the hannya mask include Aoi no Ue and Dōjōji; its use in these two plays, two of the most famous of the Noh repertoire, and its distinctive and frightening appearance make it one of the most recognizable Noh masks.

The Hannya mask is said to be dangerous and Erotic but also sorrowful and tormented displaying the complexity of human emotions. When the actor looks straight ahead, the mask appears frightening and angry; when tilted slightly down, the face of the demon appears to be sorrowful, as though crying. The oldest hannya mask is dated 1558.

Hannya masks appear in various skin tones: a white mask indicates a woman of aristocratic status (such as Rokujō in Aoi no Ue), a red mask depicts a low-class woman (seen in Dōjōji), and the darkest red depicts true demons (revealed after appearing as women, as in Momijigari and Kurozuka.)

Plays associated with Hannya

• Aoi no Ue - worn by the Lady Rokujô in her second-half appearance as a demon.
• Dōjōji - can be worn by the dancing woman in her second-half appearance as a snake, though the Shinja (真蛇) mask is also used.
• Kurozuka (known in the Kanze school as Adachigahara) - worn by the spinning woman of Adachigahara after she is revealed to be a demon.
• Momijigari - can be worn by the noblewoman after she is revealed to be a demon.

In popular culture

• Hannya is a fictional character in the popular manga Rurouni Kenshin, where he is part of the Oniwabanshu
• In the manga Sekirei, Sekirei No.1 Miya Asama is often referred to as "Hannya of the North"", and the spectral image of one often appears behind her when she is intimidating other characters.
• The Nosferatu album from 1979, by Hugh Cornwell, then of the Stranglers, features a lifesize Hannya Mask (from K.Kaneko) on the inner sleeve.
• Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi of the manga The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls wears a hannya mask while helping the Hori clan women exact their revenge.
• In the Blue Exorcist anime, in the second opening "In My World" by Japanese rock band ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, there is a Hannya mask at the very beginning of the intro.
• In the manga One Piece, a character named Hannyabal seems to be based on this mask, both on name and his facial features.