Nuo Mask From Hunan, Southern China, 19th Century

Nuo mask depicting Guan Yu (关羽) — The Red God of Warriors

Stuccoed and polychrome wood, a few chips, original patina, signs of internal wear, minor restoration under the chin.
Hunan, Southern China19th century - Dimensions: 31 x 18 cm

"Guan Yu (162–220) is one of the most revered figures in the Chinese pantheon. A legendary general of the Three Kingdoms and blood brother of Liu Bei, he was deified after his death and incorporated into the Taoist pantheon as the protective god of war, justice, and commerce. His scarlet face, his slanted almond-shaped eyes—known as “Phoenix eyes”—and his long black beard are his unchanging iconographic attributes.
Here, the mask depicts the military Guan Yu, as he appears in Hunan Nuo theater, where his presence during ceremonies guaranteed protection and loyalty to the village community. Worn during Nuo (傩) and Dixi (地戲) performances, this mask embodies the unyielding righteousness of the general-turned-god.
It is reproduced in: Paul Louis Couailhac, *The Dragon’s Daughter and Other Characters You Might Encounter in China*,Éditions Couailhac, 2019, p. 71.
Provenance: Former Collection of Paul-Louis Couailhac (1945–2025) A French expert in East Asian studies, a graduate of INALCO, and a renowned bibliophile known for having assembled one of the most significant private collections of Chinese ritual masks from Nuo theater in Europe. An exhibition showcasing his collection of Nuo masks was dedicated to him in 2026 in Issigeac, organized by the Ocarina Gallery.

Sold with a certificate of authenticity from expert S. Reynes and an invoice from the Ocarina Gallery.
* Shipping costs via DHL to be quoted upon request.