Mask Makers Web

From the Asmat tribe of Irian Jaya (West New Guinea),Indonesia.This body mask is worn during the "Jipae" Feast, a celebration of the passage of the dead from the world of people to the world of the spirits. They also call it "Baju Setan" ( Ghost Armor). During a "Jipae" ceremony, the close relative of the deceased will wear it to symbolize the spirit or ghost of the dead and parades through the village while the children and women throw rocks presenting the act of the chasing and sending the ghost to the spirit world. The body mask is made from the bark of "Fum" wood, dried then slowly hand woven into a rope. Only "Fum" rope may be used for making the rope mask. The mask is used only one time for the "Jipae" Feast, during the ceremony. Decorated with sago fibers, cassowarry nose ornament and feathers on top. The colors of the mask are, white from crushed shells, and brown from red ocher river mud

Added on: Nov 02, 2002 | Hits: 2631

lesson description ( dance )

Added on: Jul 18, 2002 | Hits: 2369

The Tshechu is a festival honouring Guru Padmasambhava, "one who was born from a lotus flower." This Indian saint contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan etc. around 800 AD. He is the founder of the Nyingmapa, the "old school" of Lamaism which still has numerous followers. The biography of Guru is highlighted by 12 episodes of the model of the Buddha Shakyamuni?s life. Each episode is commemorated around the year on the 10th day of the month by "the Tschechu". The dates and the duration of the festivals vary from one district to another but they always take place on or around the 10th day of the month according to the Bhutanese calendar. During Tshechus, the dances are performed by monks as well as by laymen. The Tshechu is a religious festival and by attending it, it is believed one gains merits. It is also a yearly social gathering where the people, dressed in all their finery, come together to rejoice.

Added on: Sep 29, 2005 | Hits: 3423

By Thomas Murray Photography by Don Tuttle Great article with photos.

Added on: Jun 02, 2002 | Hits: 2466

We had an opportunity to witness several masked dance ceremonies. The regal lively dances always drew a crowd, both local people and any tourists present. The costumes complementing the masks were vivid and contributed to the overall effect. Most masks were made of wood and/or coarse fabric.

Added on: Jun 15, 2002 | Hits: 2430

Iroquois medicine mask, 1800's, typical of those made to resemble and call forth healing spirits. Carved from wood and used in group dances to rid dwellings and individuals of illness. While the early white man looked upon such rituals as primitive and ignorant, the Iroquois were nonetheless understood to be advanced to the point that the principles of their confederation were adopted to become the U.S. Constitution.

Added on: Nov 17, 2002 | Hits: 2462

Sito ufficiale di Mamuthones e Issohadores di Mamoiada (NU-Sardegna, Italia)dell'associazione Peppino B?ccoi-Costantino Atzeni.

Added on: Oct 15, 2005 | Hits: 3668

Site in German. (Possibility to join a masked trance event.) Der Trance-Maskentanz, der im Zusammenhang mit den "Rituellen K?rperhaltungen" und der ekstatischen Trance in jedem Sommer in der L?neburger Heide und an anderen Orten stattfindet, wird versucht, durch diese T?r zu gehen. Trancehaltungen bringen uns in Kontakt mit dem Feld der uns umgebenden Energien, in dem wir durch unsere Rituale helfen k?nnen, verwirrte F?den neu zu ordnen. Wahrnehmungs?bungen, die Begegnung in der Trance mit uns in unserem Vorhaben helfenden Kr?ften, Tiergeistern sowie der Maskenbau und das Ritual des Maskentanzes k?nnen eine Br?cke bauen zum schamanischen Wissen unserer Ahnen. Die Erfahrung dieses Wissens k?nnen wir in unseren "Alltag" verweben. So weben wir unsere Wirklichkeit und den Ablauf unserer Zeit immer wieder neu ein in das Netz aller Lebensenergien - sichtbar oder unsichtbar.

Added on: Jul 01, 2002 | Hits: 2380

Photos of Shaman masks from various tribes

Added on: Apr 28, 2003 | Hits: 3000

by M. Macha NightMare Covenant of the Goddess is a bunch of Witches. We presumably share values and beliefs. And we try to work by consensus. However, we have only one annual meeting, called Grand Council, to conduct all business for the upcoming year. This takes place over a mere three days, so there's pressure to get business taken care of. In our concern for completing the "business" of CoG, we sometimes overlook or forget the shared values that have brought us together in the first place. In Starhawk's novel, The Fifth Sacred Thing, a sense of the sacred, of the presence of the whole of nature, is injected into business meetings by having mask-wearers, each aspecting a different element or animal, taking part in the meeting. The novel inspired me to put the idea into practice. With masks made by sculptor Eleanor Myers, I first employed this method at CoG's Grand Council in 1996. I hoped to bring back to meetings a visible and tangible reminder, to resacralize our meetings with the constant physical presence of the Elements of Life. I hoped it would remind us of the sacredness and balance we need if our work is to have meaning.

Added on: Feb 10, 2003 | Hits: 2660

Queensland is unique amongst all of the states of Australia in being the traditional home of two different indigenous communities. The Torres Strait Islander people, who originate from the islands located between Australia and Papua New Guinea, have separate cultural traditions to the Aboriginal people of the mainland.

Added on: Jul 25, 2003 | Hits: 2591

The ancient religious mask dancing "Tsam" is one of the most significant religious rituals reflecting Buddhist teaching through correct images and essence. "Tsam" mask dancing is included in the art form called "Doigar" which depicts independent imagination, one of the ten kinds of wisdom according to ancient Indian philosophy. It is a theatrical art performed by skilled dancers bearing the external appearance and characters of different holy figures and devils, animals or real people. This ceremony requires magnificently ornamented costumes. The "Tsam" dance ceremony was first introduced into Mongolia in the 8th century when the famous Indian Saint Lovon Badamjunai was invited to Mongolia to sanctify the construction of the first Tibetan temple Samya.

Added on: May 27, 2002 | Hits: 2210

brief story

Added on: Jun 02, 2002 | Hits: 2314

Describing the rituals. (+ Ogoh-ogoh )

Added on: Jul 21, 2002 | Hits: 2092

+ photos of giant demons The most interesting part of Nyepi for visitors is the visual spectacles of ogoh-ogoh (monsters) created by many of the villages throughout Bali to be used as a part of a huge island-wide exorcism on the eve of Nyepi. The youth of the various village banjar (local council areas) take great delight in competing with the neighbouring villages to create the most gruesome and terrifying-looking ogoh-ogoh in the month preceding Nyepi.

Added on: Jul 21, 2002 | Hits: 2309

Giants. Floats. Parades are held all over Bali, but without doubt the largest and most spectacular is in Denpasar. The ogoh-ogoh are brought out at sunset and when the accompanying bleganjur music, the most ?demonic? of Balinese gamelan music, strikes up, Denpasar becomes the Rio of the East. The ogoh-ogoh carriers, who are bound for the Puputan Square in central Denpasar, perform a strange, jerky dance, surging back and forward or suddenly turning in a circle to give the impression that the floats are really alive....

Added on: Jul 21, 2002 | Hits: 2090

Bali New Year. In the evening, the people will perform the Pengrupukan ceremony to appease the evil spirits who descend on earth on this particular night to disturb the equilibrium of world peace. People, young and old, will crowd the street, light fires and make any conceivable noise in the belief that will distract the spirits. A procession of unusual effigies is carried also in this night. The effigies, which are known as Ogoh-ogoh, are made of papier-mache and bamboo frame, and are the symbol of the evil spirits. Each cormmunily will work hard to create the most impressive Ogoh-ogoh to carry around the village..................

Added on: Jul 21, 2002 | Hits: 2182

Article. Jakarta Post Initially, the giant dolls, popularly known as ogoh-ogoh, were created as the symbol of demonic spirits. In the Ngerupuk ritual, a sort of exorcism ritual taking place the night before Nyepi, the ogoh-ogoh are paraded around the village area to ward off any evil spirits. In the parade, the ogoh-ogoh is accompanied by hundreds of screaming people carrying torches, striking gongs or manipulating any sound-producing implements available in an apparent attempt to scare away the demons. At the end of the ritual, the ogoh-ogoh is usually taken to the village's main intersection and set on fire......

Added on: Jul 21, 2002 | Hits: 2080

German ritual. site in german

Added on: Jul 24, 2002 | Hits: 2136

No one is allowed to photograph them. In fact, the myth about nouna masks goes on to say that if you try to do so, the film will not contain an image. They are ritual symbols and only make public appearance for certain kind of traditional ceremonies: death of an elder belonging to the family of the masks, annual home coming of the masks, and sacrifices offered to the "siou" which is the spirit and essence of masks. They have antic heads and black robes, and some of the heads are over centuries old.

Added on: May 20, 2002 | Hits: 2221

Everywhere shamans make masks. The mask embodies the spirit, and donning it the shaman accepts the presence of the spirit into him/herself. The Tlingit and Tibetan shamans alike "utter the words of the spirit" when wearing the mask. Elaborate masked pantomime dances punctuate the sacred calendar in South India with Kathakali, in Japan it's Bogaku, in Tibet Cham, in Pueblo land the Kachina dances. Such masked dances are also witnessed in Africa, the Pacific Islands, North & South America as well as ancient civilizations like the Egyptian, Mayan, Inca, etc. Architecture was originated by shamanic cultures. So called "primitive" tribal peoples all over the world have built sophisticated giant structures and statuary to serve the community. Natural cultivation of mental faculties enhanced through their shamanic traditions, enabled them to cut, shape and move heavy stone with simple tools. Their impressive creative abilities can be attributed to a greater group consciousness, sense of cooperation, adaptability, intuition and psychic awareness

Added on: Jun 30, 2002 | Hits: 2199

The Dan of Liberia are famous for a variety of ritual masks. One of the most prominent is the type on display that is used during young mens' rite of passage ceremonies. Perfectly carved with naturalistic features this hard wood facial cover features two rows of old cowry shells attached to a fabric bundled headdress. Stripes of tin that mimic scarification and highlight the eyes are added for richness. One large bell known as a "summoners bell" is suspended from the chin. The bell is used to call upon spirits during the ritual. This is a beautiful well crafted piece. It was created in the mid 20th century.

Added on: Apr 16, 2003 | Hits: 2316

The death of a village elder is cause for a celebration ritual. As the the griot whips the crowd into a frenzy, I lose myself in the magical energy of the dance of the spirits.

Added on: Nov 17, 2002 | Hits: 2272

The Kukeri: A Bulgarian Ritual to ensure the advent of SpringIn the rural (farming) villages of Bulgaria, the "Kukeri" is a important masked ritual, carried forward from the Thracians. They dance in the last days of the winter, just before nature comes back to life.

Added on: Jun 02, 2002 | Hits: 1531

Northern Tligit by Aldona Jonaitis

Added on: May 21, 2002 | Hits: 1557