The , also called or with reference to the

bugaku is a Japanese traditional dance that has been performed to select elites, mostly in the Japanese imperial court, for over twelve hundred years. In this way, it has been known only to the nobility, although after World War II, the dance was ope ...

traditional dance, is the building within a

Shinto shrine A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion. Overview Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings. The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...

where the sacred dance (''

kagura is a type of Shinto ritual ceremonial dance. The term is a contraction of the phrase , indicating the presence of gods () in the practice. One major function of is , involving a procession-trance process. Usually a female shaman will perfor ...

'') and music are offered to the ''

kami are the deities, divinities, spirits, phenomena or "holy powers", that are venerated in the Shinto religion. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the sp ...

'' during ceremonies.Maidono

JAANUS Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System, or JAANUS, is an online dictionary of Japanese architecture and art terms compiled by Dr. Mary Neighbour Parent. It contains approximately eight thousand entries. It is searchable in both English and ...

, accessed on July 12, 2010 It was originally just a temporary stage; first mentioned in a 9th-century text describing a ''maidono'' built in front of

Hirano Shrine The is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto. This shrine is known and popular for its gardens and many trees. History The shrine was established in the year 794 by Emperor Kammu when the capital was transferred to Heian-kyō from Nagaoka-kyō. From the ear ...

. In about a century, it had become a permanent shrine feature, and its use was extended until its function as a worship hall prevailed over the original. It is used also for weddings and

Noh is a major form of classical Japanese dance-drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Developed by Kan'ami and his son Zeami, it is the oldest major theatre art that is still regularly performed today. Although the terms Noh and ' ...

plays. Some scholars believe the '' heiden'', or hall of worship, has its origins in the ''kagura-den''.

References

Kagura {{Shinto-stub