From ancient times, masks have been called “Nuo” when used in rituals associated with sacrifices, exorcism, and disease dispelling. The Nuo mask holds a close connection to deities and initially served as a divine “expression package.”
The Spirit of Nuo: China’s Nuo Opera & Nuo Mask Art Exhibition
How do gods, all-powerful in myth, appear in our world?
1. The Just Nuo Mask
The Mask Known as “Nuo”
In ancient times, plagues plagued every household, causing widespread suffering. Helpless, people turned to the divine. They created a medium to communicate with gods—a mask, known as “Nuo.” Through this transformation, human affairs became divine matters. Those conducting these ceremonies, upon donning the mask, assumed a divine role and, when removed, returned to their human form. The character for “Nuo” holds varied meanings, encompassing gentleness and obedience as well as fierceness and ferocity. In gentleness, it recalls The Book of Songs: “There grows a tree in the marsh, how its branches bend gracefully.” In its ferocity, it appears in The Analects of Confucius: “A mouth making ‘Nuo Nuo’ sounds, expelling ghosts of plague.” In both name and appearance, the Nuo mask takes on countless forms and styles.
The ceremonial use of masks in religious rites is called the Nuo Ritual. In ancient times, plagues, nightmares, and misfortunes were considered spirits; corpses could transform into drought demons, causing aridity; water disasters were the work of river dragons; and “yellow ghosts” embodied all evils. In each Nuo ritual, humans and gods jointly transformed nature, expelled demons, and restored peace and justice.
Nuo Noodles # “King Returns” Performance
With the rise of human knowledge, Nuo rituals gradually withdrew from the divine realm and evolved into a form of folk art, thus giving birth to Nuo Opera. In Nuo Opera, the purpose of the Nuo mask remains steadfast—to protect justice and peace.
2. The Sacred Nuo Mask
Japan’s Revered Theater Form Originates from Chinese Nuo Opera
In Japan, Noh is a highly esteemed and elegant form of theater that evolved from Chinese Nuo Opera. The pronunciation of “Nuo” (nuo) in Chinese closely resembles the Japanese “Noh” (neng), a connection almost too coincidental. Japanese Noh actors regard the mask as the soul of their characters, treating it like a respected old friend. Before a performance, they carefully take the mask out, speak to it, saying, “I will be playing you,” and then, meticulously, put it on.
Respect for Masks in Chinese Nuo Opera
In Chinese Nuo Opera, masks are deeply respected as well. In the Meishan Nuo Opera, mask makers perform specific rituals over the mask to “enlighten” it. They recite incantations like, “Rising smoke ascends to the heavens, where the gods stand among clouds. This disciple humbly invites you all to descend among us…” Not only are “enlightenment” rituals held, but “opening” ceremonies are required to use the mask, and a “closing” ceremony is performed when storing it. Enlightenment, opening, closing—each ritual is rich with ceremony and must be conducted by men.
Meishan Nuo Opera Scene: “Lady Liu Crossing the River”
The deity arrives upon donning the mask.
During the performance, the actor becomes a god, if only for a moment.
3. The Fierce Nuo Mask
When first encountering a Nuo mask, one’s attention is instantly drawn to its bulging eyes. In ancient times, protruding eyes were believed to enhance a mask’s intimidating power and to allow it to see farther, embodying the divine as imagined by people. At the Sanxingdui Ruins in Guanghan, Sichuan, excavations revealed large bronze Nuo masks from the Neolithic period, with extremely exaggerated, bulging eyes.
Bronze Nuo Masks from Sanxingdui Ruins, Neolithic Period
These masks are exaggerated yet mysterious, solemn yet intense. Wherever these great eyes roam, nothing in the world escapes their gaze. Some characters in Nuo opera wear masks that are particularly ferocious and grotesque, paired with haunting chants that make one question, “Is this truly a human performance?” Such frightening designs are intended to scare away ghosts and ward off plagues. Unlike the handsome gods in fantasy dramas who easily repel thousands of demons, Nuo masks are fierce and unyielding, confronting terrifying specters with matching intensity. Historical records mention that Prince Lanling, one of China’s Four Great Beauties, wore a terrifying mask in battle to intimidate the enemy, as his handsome face invited mockery. Wearing the mask, he transformed into a god of war, sending his enemies fleeing in terror.
Throughout history, humans have feared many things. If wearing a fearsome mask can expel evil or boost confidence, then why not? After all, any way to overcome fear is a good way. Next time you encounter something frightening, try saying to yourself, “Bring me my mask.”
4. The Radiant Nuo Mask
The saying goes, “One Nuo mask chases away a hundred ghosts; one wish fulfills a thousand blessings.” The world of Nuo masks is a magnificent pantheon. Guan Jiang Shou, known as “Chief of All Generals,” originated as two protective guardians of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and later received the mandate to protect humanity. They are known as General Zeng (Increase) and General Sun (Decrease). General Sun dons a blue mask, while General Zeng splits into two, one with a red face and the other with blue. The person portraying Guan Jiang Shou undergoes days of fasting to show devotion. In Taiwanese temple fairs, Guan Jiang Shou leads with tridents, appearing fierce and righteous.
General Sun with a Blue Nuo Mask
Guan Yu is celebrated both for slaying demons and serving as a guardian of Buddhism and Taoism. Revered as the God of Wealth by merchants, Guan Yu often appears in Anshun Dixi operas, opening the door to prosperity. From the Yangtze River to the Great Wall, people everywhere venerate Guan Yu, affectionately calling him Lord Guan or Second Master Guan.
Guan Yu, also known as Lord Guan
Zhong Kui, a famous ghost catcher and deity in Taoism, is honored as a door god and judge of evil spirits. In the Enshi Nuo opera ritual “Search Nuo,” Zhong Kui leads two minor spirits, wielding iron chains, storming into a hall, chanting “Nuo, Nuo, Nuo!” until all ghosts are captured.
Zhong Kui
The Earth God and Earth Goddess represent the most accessible deities in Nuo opera. Often depicted as elderly with white hair, they oversee local land and receive extensive devotion despite their humble status.
The Earth God and Earth Goddess
In Journey to the West, whenever Sun Wukong arrives in a place filled with monsters, he summons the Earth God to understand the situation.
In short, when it comes to local affairs, the Earth God knows all.
The Timeless Glory of Nuo Masks
Nuo masks, spanning the vast currents of history, shine with brilliance—some fearsome, some kind, some whimsical. Yet from their inception, each Nuo mask has embodied a deep reverence for the divine. In Nuo opera, donning a mask transforms a performer into a deity, and removing it brings them back to mortal life. Perhaps, as the mask is worn time and again, a true spirit does descend, allowing Nuo opera to endure through the centuries rather than vanish beneath the waves of history. Each deity has a unique and singular face. These divine beings dwell in a mythical world, yet through Nuo masks, they forge a bond with humanity. People look to these deities for hope to cure illness, the strength to dispel evil, and the yearning for fortune and advancement. But do these gods truly exist? Is the power found in the masks a divine force, or is it a strength drawn from the depths of the human spirit?
Intangible Cultural Heritage Theater Performance: Millennia of Nuo
In the end, the driving force propelling civilization forward time and again has always been humanity itself. Even so, amid the evolution of civilization, Nuo endures, at least showing that people still need “Nuo.” Nuo is a cultural gene that has been preserved, a lasting facet of human heritage.