Hannya Pendant

Like so many things in Japanese and Asian cultures, the hannya is mysterious and conflicting in its meaning. Typically in Japanese Noh Theater, the hannya represents a jealous female demon; dangerous and demonic and yet sometimes sorrowful and tormented. The hannya is forever representing the dichotomy of human emotions. The word hannya is commonly associated with madness but within Buddhism it represents attaining the wisdom of enlightenment. In fact, the first artist believed to have carved the mask of hannya was a Buddhist priest named Hannya-bo during the 15th and early 16th century.