Crow Tengu are traditionally believed to be mountain spirits of reincarnated buddhist priests who through the sin of vanity are forced to be reborn into the body of a half man/half bird. Their tiny little hat supposedly contains the sutra scroll of their particular Buddhist sect. They are also well known as masters of martial arts and there are tales of them teaching exiled samurai how to become excellent warriors.

This piece is on a good friend who has spend years in the martial arts and represents the Noh masks that are worn by actors portraying tengu on stage. We finished it in one session and it will eventually have a matching piece on the other pectoral and connect to his sleeves.