How are sandae masks made and decorated?

In the context of Korean performing arts, sandae masks are crafted using a variety of materials and are designed to represent specific stock characters, such as monks, noblemen, shamans, and young dancing girls.1

Construction and Materials

• Materials: The masks are typically made from paper or gourds. Occasionally, they are carved from wood.1
• Coverage: Depending on the design, these masks may cover either the entire head or just the face.1
• Ritual Maintenance: To ensure their ritual purity, the masks are often burned and recreated anew each year.1

Decoration

• Painting: The masks are boldly painted to distinguish the various stock characters featured in the plays.1
• Symbolism: While the masks originated from traditions where they were used by shamans to impersonate spirits for healing or ritual purposes, they retain a sense of magical significance even when used primarily for entertainment.2

A single performance may utilize between 20 and 30 different masks to portray the diverse cast of characters involved in the satirical narratives.1