TITLE: Javanese Hanuman
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Asia
COUNTRY: Indonesia
SUBREGION: Java
ETHNICITY: Javanese
DESCRIPTION: Hanuman Mask
CATALOG ID: ASID036
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Wayang Wong Dance Drama
AGE: ca. 1950s
MAIN MATERIAL: wood
OTHER MATERIALS: paint
The Wayang Wong dance drama retells parts of the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These epics revolve around the god Rama and his battle with the demon king Ravana, who has abducted Rama’s wife, Sita. Rama is the avatar (earthly embodiment) of the supreme god Vishnu. In the end, Rama retrieves her with the help of the wily monkey god, Hanuman.
This specific mask represents the heroic Hanuman, who assists Rama by battling Ravana and his demonic minions.
