A Hundred Faces - Hyakumensou

A type of entertainment in the vaudeville hall. This is an art in which a person's appearance is changed in various ways using facial expressions and simple disguises. Around the Tenmei era (1781-89), Yoshiwara's Hokan Mekichi performed "Shichihenme" and "Nanatsume," in which he used a wig to change his face in seven different ways, and this became known as a parlor art. Around the Bunka era (1804-1818), Sanshotei Kajo added some ingenuity to the wig and performed "Hyakumanako." During the Bunsei era (1818-30), Hayase Watari Taira performed "Shichimenso," in which he changed his face in seven different ways using a wig or hood. This type of performance was called Hyakumenso in the Meiji era, and Matsuryutei Kakushi became well known, but there are no Hyakumenso experts in the vaudeville halls today.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

"Minami Hiroshi, Nagai Yoshio, and Ozawa Shoichi eds., Art Book 1: Irodor - The World of Colored Things" (1981, Hakusuisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

寄席(よせ)演芸の一種。顔の表情と簡単な変装で、いろいろに人相を変えてみせる芸。天明(てんめい)（1781～89）のころ、吉原の幇間(ほうかん)目吉が目鬘(めかつら)を使って顔を七通りに変える「七変目」「七ツ目」を演じ、座敷芸として知られた。文化(ぶんか)（1804～18）のころに三笑亭可上(さんしょうていかじょう)が目鬘にくふうを加えて「百眼(ひゃくまなこ)」を演じた。文政(ぶんせい)年間（1818～30）には早瀬渡平が鬘や頭巾(ずきん)をつけて顔を七通りに変える「七面相」を演じた。この系統の芸が明治に百面相といわれ、松柳亭鶴枝(かくし)の名がよく知られたが、いまの寄席には百面相の専門家はいない。

［関山和夫］

『南博・永井啓夫・小沢昭一編『芸双書1　いろどる――色物の世界』（1981・白水社）』

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