FROM NOH PLAYS TO MODERN ANIME: THE ROLE OF PEONY FLOWERS IN JAPANESE CULTURAL IMAGERY
FROM NOH PLAYS TO MODERN ANIME: THE ROLE OF PEONY FLOWERS IN JAPANESE CULTURAL IMAGERY
Author(s): Yoko Matsumoto-SturtSubject(s): Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, Visual Arts
Published by: EDITURA ASE
Keywords: peony symbolism; kijo 鬼女 (oni-women) in Noh plays; cultural imagery; iconographic analysis; props as attributes; Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the symbolism of the peony flower as an attribute of female demons or kijo in traditional and contemporary media. The peony, which symbolises the supernatural power of kijo, is depicted on the demon fan used in Noh theatre and remains in Japanese cultural memory. Over time, the meaning of this symbol has become ambiguous or lost, making it difficult for modern audiences to interpret. This study explores the linguistic, iconographic, and cultural sources of the peony on the demon fan and discusses how traditional aesthetic methods such as mitate (analogical representation) are used by contemporary media creators to revive the multilayered meanings of symbols.
Journal: Synergy
- Issue Year: 20/2024
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 23-36
- Page Count: 14
- Language: English
