Chūkei Fan with Queen Mother of the West and King Mu of Zhou (obverse) and Plum Tree and Young Pines (reverse)
Not on view
An important accessory of Noh actors is the chūkei fan. In the refined and simplified performances, the fan plays an important role in delineating character. Differentiations in fans include the design, the colors of the ground, and the color of the bamboo frame, depending on the particular role being performed. This kind of chūkei fan is appropriate for a female role. Each side of this fan features a different design, both richly painted on gold-leafed paper. One side of the fan portrays a legendary encounter between the Queen Mother of the West (in Chinese, Xiwangmu; in Japanese, Seiōbo) and King Mu of China's ancient Zhou Dynasty. The Queen Mother is shown in the garden at left. Her young female attendant carries a tray of the Queen's magical Peaches of Immortality. A blossoming plum tree, young pines, and bamboo grass are depicted on other side. This fan is one of a pair, each with nearly identical scenes (see 42.40.1).
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