Keywords
Art History
Sculpture
Lit. God body or God style; also written 神容. A noh mask*nōmen 能面 representing a young Shinto god. Of the same type as *mikazuki 三日月, jintai has greater dignity and humanity, particularly seen in the modeling of the eyes and the lack of vermilion accents bordering the metallic eyeballs as well as more fleshed out cheeks. The coloring is also a lighter ochre. Jintai is used by all schools of noh for roles of vigorous young gods, in particular Sumiyoshi Taisha 住吉大社 in Takasago 高砂, or the god Kawara no kami 河原神 in Yumiyawata 弓八幡. Created only in the late Muromachi period, the name may echo Zeami's 世阿弥 (1363-1443?) three styles of acting: aged rōtai 老体, feminine nyotai 女体, and martial guntai 軍体. Compare to *awaotoko 阿波男.