just wondering why in "Ran" and "Throne of blood" the wives of the kings/rulers (or whatever) have black chalky markings on their heads? is it a japanese thing, or a kurosawa symbolic thing? thanks.
shareIt was traditional in feudal Japanese society for high class women and geisha to shave off their eyebrows and then draw them again using charcoal. Can't remember what it's called now, but someone else did mention it on another kurosawa imdb board.
share[deleted]
Indeed, both men and women of the nobility would blacken their teeth.
shareShaved eyebrows/drawn on eyebrows actually started in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) where it spread to Japan.
shareI was puzzled by the "smudges" too, until I read that the make-up (indeed the acting style in general and particularly of Mifune and Yamada) is designed in imitation of Japanese "Noh" theater, a style of theater dating from the 14th century. One of the traits of Noh is that the actors wear masks, and Yamada's make-up (and the smudges) are in imitation of one of the masks. Before I knew any of this I was also puzzled by what seemed to be Mifune's rather static facial expressions -- something I now realize is also an homage to the masks.
shareit's a Japanese thing...married, upper-class women historically shaved their eyebrows and blackened their teeth to appear more attractive...seems these particular make-up styles went out of fashion in the late 1800's...
I'm afraid she's upped stumps and retired to the pavillion.