Noh Mask: Kojo (Old Man)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

There are various kinds of masks for the role of an old man, showing subtle differences in beard and mustache, either hand-painted or using real hair, and in the arrangement of teeth. The "Kojo" mask is worn by the actor portraying the old man in the first part of "Takasago" and in other Noh plays. The mask, embodying dignity and divinity, foreshadows the old man's appearance in the second part as a god.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art