What Is the Meaning of Kabuki Mask Features?

Japanese theater has three major forms: Noh, Kyogen and Kabuki. While Noh and Kyogen actors use stylized masks to give the audience information about their characters, Kabuki performers paint their faces instead. Along with the brightly colored costumes, Kabuki makeup is iconic of the art form and shows the audience who each character is from the moment he enters the stage.

Kabuki actors do not wear masks, but rather, most of them paint their faces in a style called "kesho." First, a performer applies a thick layer of white makeup made of rice powder over his entire face, using different shades depending on the age, social status and gender of his character. He then outlines his eyes and mouth in black or red, using different shapes and styles to represent a male or female character.

Actors who are playing spirits, demons or other supernatural characters use a different style of face painting, called kumadori. Kumadori begins with the same layer of white, but the facial features drawn over it are much more complex and colorful. In addition to the eyes and mouth, the actor also outlines his cheekbones and jaw, using styles that represent the character's predominant emotions. Each character has a particular pattern that represents him, totaling over 100 distinct kumadori designs in use.

Kumadori designs are color-coded, with each color representing different personality traits or emotions; the audience uses the face paint to identify each character as he enters and to immediately recognize his emotional state. The colors used to represent good characters and positive emotions are red, for passion and enthusiasm; pink, for youthful joy; light blue, for an even temper; pale green, for peacefulness; and purple, for nobility or elevation of spirit. Pink and purple are used rarely and only for a few particular characters.

As kumadori is used for villains and demons, the colors representing bad character traits or negative emotions are used frequently. Indigo represents depression; brown, self-centeredness or egotism; gray, applied to the chin, melancholy; black, fear; and deep red, anger, stubbornness, and cruelty. Deep red is the most common kumadori color, and it can be used for characters who have both positive and negative traits. Next in frequency is indigo, which is often used by actors playing ghosts.