is a major form of classical Japanese dance-
drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...
that has been performed since the 14th century. Developed by
Kan'ami
was a Japanese Noh actor, author, and musician during the Muromachi period. Born in Iga Province, Kan'ami also went by and . He is the father of the well-known playwright .
Theater
Kan'ami's career began in Obata, Nabari-shi, Mie when he fou ...
and his son
Zeami
(c. 1363 – c. 1443), also called , was a Japanese aesthetician, actor, and playwright.
His father, Kan'ami Kiyotsugu, introduced him to Noh theater performance at a young age, and found that he was a skilled actor. Kan'ami was also skill ...
, it is the oldest major theatre art that is still regularly performed today.
Although the terms Noh and ''
nōgaku
''Nōgaku'' (能楽) is one of the traditional styles of Japanese theater. It is composed of the lyric drama ''noh'', and the comic theater ''kyōgen'' (狂言). Traditionally, both types of theatre are performed together, the ''kyōgen'' being ...
'' are sometimes used interchangeably, ''nōgaku'' encompasses both Noh and ''
kyōgen
is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater. It developed alongside ''Noh'', was performed along with ''Noh'' as an intermission of sorts between ''Noh'' acts on the same stage, and retains close links to ''Noh'' in the modern day; therefo ...
''. Traditionally, a full ''nōgaku'' program included several Noh plays with comedic ''kyōgen'' plays in between; an abbreviated program of two Noh plays with one ''kyōgen'' piece has become common today. Optionally, the ritual performance ''Okina'' may be presented in the very beginning of ''nōgaku'' presentation.
Noh is often based on tales from traditional literature with a supernatural being transformed into human form as a hero narrating a story. Noh integrates masks, costumes and various props in a dance-based performance, requiring highly trained actors and musicians. Emotions are primarily conveyed by stylized conventional gestures while the iconic masks represent the roles such as ghosts, women, deities, and demons. Written in
late middle Japanese
was a stage of the Japanese language following Early Middle Japanese and preceding Early Modern Japanese. It was a period of transition in which the language shed many of its archaic features and became closer to its modern form.
The period s ...
, the text "vividly describes the ordinary people of the twelfth to sixteenth centuries".
Having a strong emphasis on tradition rather than innovation, Noh is extremely codified and regulated by the ''
iemoto
is a Japanese term used to refer to the founder or current Grand Master of a certain school of traditional Japanese art. It is used synonymously with the term when it refers to the family or house that the iemoto is head of and represents.
Th ...
'' system.
History
Origins
The
kanji
are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...
for means "skill", "craft", or "talent", particularly in the field of performing arts in this context. The word Noh may be used alone or with ''gaku'' (; entertainment, music) to form the word ''nōgaku''. Noh is a classical tradition that is highly valued by many today. When used alone, Noh refers to the historical genre of theatre that originated from ''
sarugaku
was a form of theatre popular in Japan during the 11th to 14th centuries. One of its predecessors was a , a form of entertainment reminiscent of the modern-day circus, consisting mostly of acrobatics, juggling, and pantomime, sometimes combined w ...
'' in the mid 14th century and continues to be performed today.
One of the oldest forerunners of Noh and ''kyōgen'' is ', which was introduced to Japan from China in the 8th century. At the time, the term ''sangaku'' referred to various types of performance featuring acrobats, song and dance as well as comic sketches. Its subsequent adaptation to Japanese society led to its assimilation of other traditional art forms."
Various performing art elements in ''sangaku'' as well as elements of ''
dengaku
were rustic Japanese celebrations that can be classified into two types: that developed as a musical accompaniment to rice planting observances, and the dances that developed in conjunction with . The celebrated for rice planting was perform ...
'' (rural celebrations performed in connection with rice planting), ''
sarugaku
was a form of theatre popular in Japan during the 11th to 14th centuries. One of its predecessors was a , a form of entertainment reminiscent of the modern-day circus, consisting mostly of acrobatics, juggling, and pantomime, sometimes combined w ...
'' (popular entertainment including acrobatics, juggling, and pantomime), ''
shirabyōshi
were Japanese female entertainers in the Heian and Kamakura periods who sang songs and performed dances. They danced dressed as men. The profession of became popular in the 12th century. They would perform for the nobility, and at celebrations ...
''(traditional dances performed by female dancers in the Imperial Court in the 12th century), ''
gagaku
is a type of Japanese classical music that was historically used for imperial court music and dances. was developed as court music of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and its near-current form was established in the Heian period (794-1185) around t ...
'' (music and dance performed in the Imperial Court beginning in the 7th century), and ''
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 ...
'' (ancient ''
Shinto
Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...
'' dances in folk tales) evolved into Noh and ''kyōgen''.
Studies on the
genealogy
Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...
of the Noh actors in 14th century indicate they were members of families specializing in the performing arts. According to legend, the Konparu School, which is considered to be the oldest tradition of Noh, was founded by
Hata no Kawakatsu
, sometimes called Hada no Kōkatsu, was a legendary figure in Japanese folklore, who is believed to have introduced ritual Shinto dances to Japan in the sixth century. He is also considered the progenitor of a hereditary line which includes many ...
in the 6th century. However, the founder of the Konparu school, which is widely accepted among historians, was Bishaō Gon no Kami (Komparu Gonnokami) during
Nanboku-chō period
The Nanboku-chō period (南北朝時代, ''Nanboku-chō jidai'', "North and South court period", also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period), spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Mur ...
in the 14th century. According to the genealogical chart of the Konparu school, Bishaō Gon no Kami is a descendant after 53 generations of Hata no Kawakatsu. The Konparu school was descended from the ''sarugaku'' troupe which had played active roles in
Kasuga-taisha
is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the shrine of the Fujiwara family, established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lan ...
and
Kofuku-ji in
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2005). "Yamato" in . It was also called . Yamato consists of two characters, 大 "great", and 和 " Wa". At first, the ...
.
[Shite-kata.](_blank)
The Noh.com[Kotobank, Konparu school.](_blank)
The Asahi Shimbun
is one of the four largest newspapers in Japan. Founded in 1879, it is also one of the oldest newspapers in Japan and Asia, and is considered a newspaper of record for Japan. Its circulation, which was 4.57 million for its morning edition and ...
Another theory, by Shinhachirō Matsumoto, suggests Noh originated from outcastes struggling to claim higher social status by catering to those in power, namely the new ruling ''
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...
'' class of the time. The transfer of the
shogunate
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
from
Kamakura
is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Kamakura has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 persons per km² over the total area of . Kamakura was designated as a city on 3 November 1939.
Kamak ...
to
Kyoto
Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...
at the beginning of
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by t ...
marked the increasing power of the samurai class and strengthened the relationship between the shogunate and the court. As Noh became the ''shōgun''s favorite art form, Noh was able to become a courtly art form through this newly formed relationship. In 14th century, with strong support and patronage from ''shōgun''
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
was the third ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate, ruling from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was Ashikaga Yoshiakira's third son but the oldest son to survive, his childhood name being Haruō (). Yoshimitsu was ...
, Zeami was able to establish Noh as the most prominent theatre art form of the time.
The establishment of Noh by Kan'ami and Zeami
In the 14th century, during the
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by t ...
(1336 to 1573),
Kan'ami Kiyotsugu and his son
Zeami Motokiyo
(c. 1363 – c. 1443), also called , was a Japanese aesthetician, actor, and playwright.
His father, Kan'ami Kiyotsugu, introduced him to Noh theater performance at a young age, and found that he was a skilled actor. Kan'ami was also skill ...
reinterpreted various traditional performing arts and completed Noh in a significantly different form from the traditional one, essentially bringing Noh to the present form.
Kan'ami was a renowned actor with great versatility playing roles from graceful women and 12-year-old boys to strong men. When Kan'ami first presented his work to the 17-year-old
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
was the third ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate, ruling from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was Ashikaga Yoshiakira's third son but the oldest son to survive, his childhood name being Haruō (). Yoshimitsu was ...
, Zeami was a child actor in his play, around age 12. Yoshimitsu fell in love with Zeami and his position of favor at court caused Noh to be performed frequently for Yoshimitsu thereafter.
Konparu Zenchiku
was a skilled Japanese Noh actor, troupe leader, and playwright. His plays are particularly characterized by an intricate, allusive, and subtle style inherited from Zeami which convolved yūgen with influences from Zen Buddhism (his Zen master ...
, who was the great-grandson of Bishaō Gon no Kami, the founder of the Konparu school, and the husband of Zeami's daughter, incorporated elements of
waka (poetry)
is a type of poetry in classical Japanese literature. Although ''waka'' in modern Japanese is written as , in the past it was also written as (see Wa, an old name for Japan), and a variant name is .
Etymology
The word ''waka'' has two differ ...
into Zeami's Noh and further developed it.
By this period, among the five major schools of Noh, four were established: the
Kanze school, established by Kan'ami and Zeami; the
Hōshō school established by Kan'ami's eldest brother; the Konparu school; and the Kongō school. All of these schools were descendants of the ''sarugaku'' troupe from Yamato Province. The
Ashikaga Shogunate
The , also known as the , was the feudal military government of Japan during the Muromachi period from 1336 to 1573.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Muromachi-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 669.
The Ashikaga shogunate was establ ...
supported only the Kanze school among the four schools.
[Noh schools.](_blank)
Wagokoro.
Tokugawa era
During the
Edo period
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...
, Noh continued to be an aristocratic art form supported by the ''
shōgun
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
'', the feudal lords (''
daimyō
were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji era, Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and n ...
s''), as well as wealthy and sophisticated commoners. While ''
kabuki
is a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.
Kabuki is thought to ...
'' and
''joruri'' popular to the middle class focused on new and experimental entertainment, Noh strived to preserve its established high standards and historic authenticity and remained mostly unchanged throughout the era. To capture the essence of performances given by great masters, every detail in movements and positions was reproduced by others, generally resulting in an increasingly slow, ceremonial tempo over time.
In this era, the
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate (, Japanese 徳川幕府 ''Tokugawa bakufu''), also known as the , was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Tokugawa-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia ...
appointed Kanze school as the head of the four schools. Kita Shichidayū (Shichidayū Chōnō), a Noh actor of the Konparu school who served
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Early life (1579–1593)
Tokugawa Hidetada was bo ...
, founded the Kita school, which was the last established of the five major schools.
Modern Noh after Meiji era
![Nogaku-In-the Noh-Theatre-by-Ogata-Gekko-1891](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Nogaku-In-the_Noh-Theatre-by-Ogata-Gekko-1891.png)
The fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1868 and the formation of a new, modernized government resulted in the end of financial support by the state, and the entire field of Noh experienced major financial crisis. Shortly after the
Meiji Restoration
The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ...
both the number of Noh performers and Noh stages greatly diminished. The support from the imperial government was eventually regained partly due to Noh's appeal to foreign diplomats. The companies that remained active throughout the
Meiji era
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization b ...
also significantly broadened Noh's reach by catering to the general public, performing at theatres in major cities such as Tokyo and
Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...
.
In 1957 the Japanese Government designated ''nōgaku'' as an
Important Intangible Cultural Property, which affords a degree of legal protection to the tradition as well as its most accomplished practitioners.
The National Noh Theatre founded by the government in 1983 stages regular performances and organizes courses to train actors in the leading roles of ''nōgaku''. Noh was inscribed in 2008 on
the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO as Nōgaku theatre.
Although the terms ''nōgaku'' and Noh are sometimes used interchangeably, the Japanese government's definition of "''nōgaku''" theatre encompasses both Noh plays and ''kyōgen'' plays.
''Kyōgen'' is performed in between Noh plays in the same space. Compared to Noh, "''kyōgen'' relies less on the use of masks and is derived from the humorous plays of the
''sangaku'', as reflected in its comic dialogue."
Women in Noh
During the
Edo period
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...
, the guild system gradually tightened, which largely excluded women from Noh, except for some women (such as
courtesans
Courtesan, in modern usage, is a euphemism for a "kept" mistress or prostitute, particularly one with wealthy, powerful, or influential clients. The term historically referred to a courtier, a person who attended the court of a monarch or other ...
) performing songs in marginal situations.
Later, in the
Meiji era
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization b ...
, Noh performers taught wealthy people and nobles, and this led to more opportunities for female performers because women insisted on female teachers.
In the early 1900s, after women were allowed to join
Tokyo Music School
or is the most prestigious art school in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, it also has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, and Kitasenju and Adachi, Tokyo. The university has trained renowned artists in the fields of painting, scul ...
, the rules forbidding women from joining various schools and associations in Noh were relaxed.
In 1948, the first women joined the Nohgaku Performers' Association.
In 2004, the first women joined the Association for Japanese Noh Plays.
In 2007, the
National Noh Theatre
The National Noh Theatre (国立能楽堂, ''Kokuritsu Nōgaku Dō'') opened in Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan in September 1983. The auditorium seats 591 for performances of Noh and Kyōgen, and there is also a rehearsal stage, exhibition area ...
began to annually present regular programs by female performers.
In 2009, there were about 1200 male and 200 female professional Noh performers.
''Jo-ha-kyū''
The concept of ''
jo-ha-kyū
is a concept of modulation and movement applied in a wide variety of traditional Japanese arts. Roughly translated to "beginning, break, rapid", it essentially means that all actions or efforts should begin slowly, speed up, and then end swiftl ...
'' dictates virtually every element of Noh including compiling of a program of plays, structuring of each play, songs and dances within plays, and the basic rhythms within each Noh performance. ''Jo'' means beginning, ''ha'' means breaking, and ''kyū'' means rapid or urgent. The term originated in ''
gagaku
is a type of Japanese classical music that was historically used for imperial court music and dances. was developed as court music of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and its near-current form was established in the Heian period (794-1185) around t ...
'', ancient courtly music, to indicate gradually increasing tempo and was adopted in various Japanese traditions including Noh, tea ceremony, poetry, and flower arrangement.
''Jo-ha-kyū'' is incorporated in the traditional five-play program of Noh. The first play is ''jo'', the second, third, and fourth plays are ''ha'', and the fifth play is ''kyū''. In fact, the five categories discussed
below
Below may refer to:
*Earth
*Ground (disambiguation)
*Soil
*Floor
*Bottom (disambiguation)
Bottom may refer to:
Anatomy and sex
* Bottom (BDSM), the partner in a BDSM who takes the passive, receiving, or obedient role, to that of the top or ...
were created so that the program would represent ''jo-ha-kyū'' when one play from each category is selected and performed in order. Each play can be broken into three parts, the introduction, the development, and the conclusion. A play starts out in a slow tempo at ''jo'', gets slightly faster at ''ha'', then culminates in ''kyū''.
Performers and roles
![KANZE Sakon Ataka](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/KANZE_Sakon_Ataka.jpg)
Actors begin their training as young children, traditionally at the age of three.
Training
Zeami isolated nine levels or types of Noh acting from lower degrees which put emphasis on movement and violence to higher degrees which represent the opening of a flower and spiritual prowess.
In 2012, there are five extant schools of Noh acting called
Kanze (観世),
Hōshō (宝生),
Komparu (金春),
Kongō (金剛), and
Kita (喜多) schools that train ''shite'' actors. Each school has its own ''iemoto'' family that carries the name of the school and is considered the most important. The ''iemoto'' holds the power to create new plays or modify lyrics and performance modes.
''Waki'' actors are trained in the schools Takayasu (高安), Fukuou (福王), and Hōshō (宝生). There are two schools that train ''kyōgen'', Ōkura (大蔵) and Izumi (和泉). Eleven schools train instrumentalists, each school specializing in one to three instruments.
The Nohgaku Performers' Association (''Nōgaku Kyōkai''), to which all professionals are registered, strictly protects the traditions passed down from their ancestors (see ''
iemoto
is a Japanese term used to refer to the founder or current Grand Master of a certain school of traditional Japanese art. It is used synonymously with the term when it refers to the family or house that the iemoto is head of and represents.
Th ...
''). However, several secret documents of the Kanze school written by Zeami, as well as materials by
Konparu Zenchiku
was a skilled Japanese Noh actor, troupe leader, and playwright. His plays are particularly characterized by an intricate, allusive, and subtle style inherited from Zeami which convolved yūgen with influences from Zen Buddhism (his Zen master ...
, have been diffused throughout the community of scholars of Japanese theatre.
Roles
![Noh-stage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Noh-stage.png)
There are four major categories of Noh performers: ''shite'', ''waki'', ''kyōgen'', and ''hayashi''.
# ''Shite'' (仕手, シテ). ''Shite'' is the main protagonist, or the leading role in plays. In plays where the ''shite'' appears first as a human and then as a ghost, the first role is known as the ''mae-shite'' and the later as the ''nochi-shite''.
#* ''Shitetsure'' (仕手連れ, シテヅレ). The ''shite's'' companion. Sometimes ''shitetsure'' is abbreviated to ''tsure'' (連れ, ツレ), although this term refers to both the ''shitetsure'' and the ''wakitsure''.
#* ''Kōken'' (後見) are stage hands, usually one to three people.
#* ''Jiutai'' (地謡) is the chorus, usually comprising six to eight people.
# ''Waki'' (脇, ワキ) performs the role that is the counterpart or foil of the ''shite''.
#* ''Wakitsure'' (脇連れ, ワキヅレ) or ''Waki-tsure'' is the companion of the ''waki''.
# ''
Kyōgen
is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater. It developed alongside ''Noh'', was performed along with ''Noh'' as an intermission of sorts between ''Noh'' acts on the same stage, and retains close links to ''Noh'' in the modern day; therefo ...
'' (狂言) perform the ''aikyōgen'' (間狂言), which are interludes during plays. ''Kyōgen'' actors also perform in separate plays between individual Noh plays.
# ''Hayashi'' (囃子) or ''hayashi-kata'' (囃子方) are the instrumentalists who play the four instruments used in Noh theatre: the transverse , or , the , and the . The flute used for Noh is specifically called .
A typical Noh play always involves the chorus, the orchestra, and at least one ''shite'' and one ''waki'' actor.
Performance elements
Noh performance combines a variety of elements into a stylistic whole, with each particular element the product of generations of refinement according to the central Buddhist,
Shinto
Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...
, and minimalist aspects of Noh's aesthetic principles.
Masks
Noh
mask
A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment and often they have been employed for rituals and rights. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practic ...
s (能面 ''nō-men'' or 面 ''omote'') are carved from blocks of Japanese cypress (檜 "''
hinoki
''Chamaecyparis obtusa'' (Japanese cypress, hinoki cypress or hinoki; ja, 檜 or , ) is a species of cypress native to central Japan in East Asia, and widely cultivated in the temperate northern hemisphere for its high-quality timber and orname ...
''"), and painted with natural pigments on a neutral base of glue and crunched seashell. There are approximately 450 different masks mostly based on sixty types, all of which have distinctive names. Some masks are representative and frequently used in many different plays, while some are very specific and may only be used in one or two plays. Noh masks signify the characters' gender, age, and social ranking, and by wearing masks the actors may portray youngsters, old men, female, or nonhuman (
divine
Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.[divine ...](_blank)
or
demon
A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, ani ...
ic) characters. Only the ''shite'', the main actor, wears a mask in most plays, although the ''tsure'' may also wear a mask in some plays.
Even though the mask covers an actor's facial expressions, the use of the mask in Noh is not an abandonment of facial expressions altogether. Rather, its intent is to stylize and codify the facial expressions through the use of the mask and to stimulate the imagination of the audience. By using masks, actors are able to convey emotions in a more controlled manner through movements and body language. Some masks utilize lighting effect to convey different emotions through slight tilting of the head. Facing slightly upward, or "brightening" the mask, will let the mask to capture more light, revealing more features that appear laughing or smiling. Facing downward, or "clouding" it, will cause the mask to appear sad or mad.
Noh masks are treasured by Noh families and institution, and the powerful Noh schools hold the oldest and most valuable Noh masks in their private collections, rarely seen by the public. The most ancient mask is supposedly kept as a hidden treasure by the oldest school, the Konparu. According to the current head of the Konparu school, the mask was carved by the legendary regent
Prince Shōtoku
, also known as or , was a semi-legendary regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko. He was the son of Emperor Yōmei and his consort, Princess Anahobe no Hashihito, who was also Yōmei's younger half-s ...
(572–622) over a thousand years ago. While the historical accuracy of the legend of Prince Shōtoku's mask may be contested, the legend itself is ancient as it is first recorded in Zeami's ''Style and the Flower'' written in the 14th century.
[p11]
p14
/ref> Some of the masks of the Konparu school belong to the Tokyo National Museum
The or TNM is an art museum in Ueno Park in the Taitō ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the four museums operated by the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage ( :ja:国立文化財機構), is considered the oldest national museum in Japan, ...
, and are exhibited there frequently.
File:Noh Mask Hannya type.jpg, Noh mask of the ''hannya
The mask is a mask used in Japanese Noh theater, representing a jealous female demon. It is characterized by two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a leering mouth.
Etymology
is the Sino-Japanese pronunciation of ''bō rě'' (般若 ...
'' type. 17th or 18th century. Deemed Important Cultural Property.
File:Akobujō (Noh mask), Tokyo National Museum C-1530.jpg, Noh mask of the ''akobujō'' type. 16th or 17th century. Deemed Important Cultural Property.
File:Ayakashi (Noh mask), Tokyo National Museum.jpg, Noh mask of the ''ayahashi'' type. 17th century. Deemed Important Cultural Property.
File:Chorei-beshimi (Noh mask), Tokyo National Museum C-1560.jpg, Noh mask of the ''chorei-beshimi'' type. 17th century. Deemed Important Cultural Property.
File:Hakushiki-jō (Noh mask), Tokyo National Museum C-1528.jpg, Noh mask of the type. 15th century. Deemed Important Cultural Property.
File:Shōjō (Noh mask), Tokyo National Museum C-1535.jpg, Noh mask of the ''shōjō'' type. 15th or 16th century. Deemed Important Cultural Property.
File:Shikami (Noh mask), Tokyo National Museum.jpg, Noh mask of the ''shikami'' type. 17th or 18th century.
File:Uba (Noh mask), Tokyo National Museum C-1559.jpg, Noh mask of the ''uba'' type. 16th century. Deemed Important Cultural Property.
File:Wakaotoko (Noh mask), Tokyo National Museum.jpg, Noh mask of the type. 16th or 17th century.
File:Inrō with Noh Masks.jpg, with Noh masks. (front and back) early 19th century.
Stage
The traditional Noh stage
Stage or stages may refer to:
Acting
* Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions
* Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage"
* ''The Stage'', a weekly British theatre newspaper
* Sta ...
(''butai'') has complete openness that provides a shared experience between the performers and the audience throughout the performance. Without any proscenium or curtains to obstruct the view, the audience sees each actor even during the moments before they enter (and after they exit) the central "stage" (''honbutai'', "main stage"). The theatre itself is considered symbolic and treated with reverence both by the performers and the audience.
One of the most recognizable characteristic of Noh stage is its independent roof that hangs over the stage even in indoor theatres. Supported by four columns, the roof symbolizes the sanctity of the stage, with its architectural design derived from the worship pavilion
In architecture, ''pavilion'' has several meanings:
* It may be a subsidiary building that is either positioned separately or as an attachment to a main building. Often it is associated with pleasure. In palaces and traditional mansions of Asia ...
(''haiden Haiden may refer to:
*A Gewürztraminer wine
* Haiden (Shinto), the hall of worship of a Shinto shrine
See also
* Heiden (disambiguation)
{{disambig ...
'') or sacred dance pavilion (''kagura-den
The , also called or with reference to the bugaku traditional dance, is the building within a Shinto shrine where the sacred dance (''kagura'') and music are offered to the ''kami'' during ceremonies. '') of Shinto
Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...
shrines. The roof also unifies the theatre space and defines the stage as an architectural entity.
The pillars supporting the roof are named ''shitebashira'' (principal character's pillar), ''metsukebashira'' (gazing pillar), ''wakibashira'' (secondary character's pillar), and ''fuebashira'' (flute pillar), clockwise from upstage right respectively. Each pillar is associated with the performers and their actions.
The stage is made entirely of unfinished ''hinoki
''Chamaecyparis obtusa'' (Japanese cypress, hinoki cypress or hinoki; ja, 檜 or , ) is a species of cypress native to central Japan in East Asia, and widely cultivated in the temperate northern hemisphere for its high-quality timber and orname ...
'', Japanese cypress, with almost no decorative elements. The poet and novelist Tōson Shimazaki
was the pen-name of Haruki Shimazaki, a Japanese writer active in the Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa periods of Japan. He began his career as a Romantic poet, but went on to establish himself as a major proponent of Japanese Naturalism.
Ea ...
writes that "on the stage of the Noh theatre there are no sets that change with each piece. Neither is there a curtain. There is only a simple panel (''kagami-ita'') with a painting of a green pine
A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accep ...
tree. This creates the impression that anything that could provide any shading has been banished. To break such monotony and make something happen is no easy thing."
Another unique feature of the stage is the ''hashigakari'', a narrow bridge at upstage right used by actors to enter the stage. ''Hashigakari'' means "suspension bridge", signifying something aerial that connects two separate worlds on a same level. The bridge symbolizes the mythic nature of Noh plays in which otherworldly ghosts and spirits frequently appear. In contrast, ''hanamichi
The is an extra stage section used in Japanese kabuki theater. It is a long, raised platform, running left of centre to the stage through the audience, connecting to the main stage.
The is typically used for character entrances and exits, t ...
'' in Kabuki
is a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.
Kabuki is thought to ...
theatres is literally a path (''michi'') that connects two spaces in a single world, thus has a completely different significance.
Costumes
Noh actors wear silk costumes called ''shozoku'' (robes) along with wigs, hats, and props such as the fan. With striking colors, elaborate texture, and intricate weave and embroidery, Noh robes are truly works of art in their own right. Costumes for the ''shite'' in particular are extravagant, shimmering silk brocades, but are progressively less sumptuous for the ''tsure,'' the ''wakizure,'' and the ''aikyōgen''.
For centuries, in accordance with the vision of Zeami, Noh costumes emulated the clothing that the characters would genuinely wear, such as the formal robes for a courtier and the street clothing for a peasant or commoner. But in the late sixteenth century, the costumes became stylized with certain symbolic and stylistic conventions. During the Edo (Tokugawa) period, the elaborate robes given to actors by noblemen and ''samurai'' in the Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by t ...
were developed as costumes.
The musicians and chorus typically wear formal ''montsuki'' ''kimono
The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono ...
'' (black and adorned with five family crests) accompanied by either ''hakama
are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Originally stemming from (), the trousers worn by members of the Chinese imperial court in the Sui and Tang dynasties, this style was adopted by the Japanese in the form of in the 6th centur ...
'' (a skirt-like garment) or ''kami-shimo'', a combination of ''hakama'' and a waist-coat with exaggerated shoulders. Finally, the stage attendants are garbed in virtually unadorned black garments, much in the same way as stagehands in contemporary Western theatre.
Props
The use of props in Noh is minimalistic and stylized. The most commonly used prop in Noh is the fan, as it is carried by all performers regardless of role. Chorus singers and musicians may carry their fan in hand when entering the stage, or carry it tucked into the ''obi #REDIRECT Obi #REDIRECT Obi {{redirect category shell, {{R from other capitalisation{{R from ambiguous title ... {{redirect category shell, {{R from other capitalisation{{R from ambiguous title ...
''(the sash). The fan is usually placed at the performer's side when he or she takes position, and is often not taken up again until leaving the stage. During dance sequences, the fan is typically used to represent any and all hand-held props, such as a sword, wine jug, flute, or writing brush. The fan may represent various objects over the course of a single play.
When hand props other than fans are used, they are usually introduced or retrieved by ''
'' who fulfill a similar role to stage crew in contemporary theatre. Like their Western counterparts, stage attendants for Noh traditionally dress in black, but unlike in Western theatre they may appear on stage during a scene, or may remain on stage during an entire performance, in both cases in plain view of the audience. The all-black costume of ''kuroko'' implies they are not part of the action on stage and are effectively invisible.
Set pieces in Noh such as the boats, wells, altars, and bells, are typically carried onto the stage before the beginning of the act in which they are needed. These props normally are only outlines to suggest actual objects, although the great bell, a perennial exception to most Noh rules for props, is designed to conceal the actor and to allow a costume change during the ''kyōgen'' interlude.
ensemble (''Noh-bayashi'' 能囃子). Noh is a chanted drama, and a few commentators have dubbed it "Japanese
". However, the singing in Noh involves a limited tonal range, with lengthy, repetitive passages in a narrow dynamic range. Texts are poetic, relying heavily on the Japanese seven-five rhythm common to nearly all forms of
, with an economy of expression, and an abundance of allusion. The singing parts of Noh are called "''Utai''" and the speaking parts "''Kataru''". The music has many blank spaces (''ma'') in between the actual sounds, and these negative blank spaces are in fact considered the heart of the music. In addition to ''utai'', Noh ''hayashi'' ensemble consists of four musicians, also known as the "hayashi-kata", including three drummers, which play the ''
'' flutist.
The chant is not always performed "in character"; that is, sometimes the actor will speak lines or describe events from the perspective of another character or even a disinterested narrator. Far from breaking the rhythm of the performance, this is actually in keeping with the otherworldly feel of many Noh plays, especially in those characterized as ''mugen''.
Of the roughly 2000 plays created for Noh that are known today, about 240 make up the current repertoire performed by the five existing Noh schools. The current repertoire is heavily influenced by the taste of aristocratic class in Tokugawa period and does not necessarily reflect popularity among the commoners.
There are several ways to classify Noh plays.
s can be classified into three broad categories.
* ''Genzai'' Noh (現在能, "present Noh") features human characters and events unfold according to a linear timeline within the play.
* ''Mugen'' Noh (夢幻能, "supernatural Noh") involves supernatural worlds, featuring gods, spirits, ghosts, or phantasms in the ''shite'' role. Time is often depicted as passing in a
fashion, and action may switch between two or more timeframes from moment to moment, including flashbacks.
* ''Ryōkake'' Noh (両掛能, "mixed Noh"), though somewhat uncommon, is a
of the above with the first act being ''Genzai'' Noh and the second act ''Mugen'' Noh.
While ''Genzai'' Noh utilizes internal and external conflicts to drive storylines and bring out emotions, ''Mugen'' Noh focuses on utilizing
s of the past and the deceased to invoke emotions.
Additionally, all Noh plays may be categorized by their style.
* ''Geki'' Noh (劇能) is a drama piece based around the advancement of plot and the narration of action.
* ''Furyū'' Noh (風流能) is little more than a dance piece characterized by elaborate stage action, often involving acrobatics, stage properties, and multiple characters.
All Noh plays are divided by their themes into the following five categories. This classification is considered the most practical, and is still used in formal programming choices today.