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In the latter one-man variety, a single performer plays the lion's part. There are also variations in which several performers form the body of the lion. In the former, one performer takes up the position of the head and the other the tail, thus forming a four-footed lion. Shishimai can be broadly divided into two-man and one-man varieties.

During the Kamakura and Muromachi periods it came to be performed along with sarugaku and dengaku and took on the form that can be seen today. Originally, it took the form of a dancer performing while wearing a lion costume resembling a stuffed animal. Shishimai was introduced from the Asian mainland in ancient times as part of the arts of gigaku, bugaku, and sangaku. Catalogue note: The shishiodori or Lion dance, is a dance in which the performer wears a decorative lion head (the shishigashira). A bronze figure of a Shishimai dancerJapan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Late 19th centur圜ast standing on top of bale of rice straw, wearing a large Shishi mask and cloak and holding a suzu and fan in his hand, the mouth of the mask open revealing a man’s face inside, the bale of straw opens to be used as a container.Height 37 cm.Property of a Gentleman.

Stuffed animal antiques chimpanzee monkey