Northern China Shaman Mask Art

There are many utensils used in the religious ceremory in Saman, such as, god tables, waste bells, bronze mirrors, drums, drum whips, etc. On the utensils carved all kinds of god designs, especially on the god tables and drums, there are multi-coloured god mask caved in remate ages. Northen Saman mask, as a kind of spiritally all-powerful weapon, gradually became entertaining instrument, when the ancestors got rid of the fear and low self-esteem. Saman mask gradually changed from the solemn sacrifies to ancestors and gods into opera performance for entertainment. Saman mask basically reflected the goddess, it came into being in the prosperons period of matriarchal society. Northen China is one of the birthplaces of Saman masks in the world. It is called the "living fossil" , because of the regional character, classification and cultural value, etc. Usually the Saman masks are made from grass, leather, tortoiseshell, clamshell. In morden times, Korean paper, birch bark are used. Then humans, birds, ghose' s facial image, some of which are kind, others ferocious and rich and varied expressions, are painted on the masks. Behind each mask there is one or more myth or tale story, and in it contains mass cultural connotation. It reflects the living condition and cultural mentality of the people lived even earlier.