Week 7 Japan Flashcards
Noh Theater
- highly stylized
- ritualistic
- emphasis on slow movement
- minimal dialogue
- masks
*Reflects Buddhist and Shinto influences
> Themes of spiritual and temporal worlds
Shintoism
- animisitic beliefs through spirits and natural elements
- hashigakari = passage from the spirit worlf
- many plays about seeking appeasement or reconciliaton
Kanami Kiyotsugo & Zaemi Motokiyo
- FOUNDERS of Noh Theater
*Kanami
> music
> dance
> Zen aesthetics
*Zeami (son of Kanami)
> formalized Noh
> wrote the plays
> theoretical texts
Yugen (aesthetic)
- key AESTHETIC in Noh
- “grace” or “mystery” > life’s impermanence
- subtle emotional beauty
who is the Shite?
- the main character in Noh
- often a spirit seeking peace
*FIRST ACT = disguised
*SECOND ACT = true form revealed
FIVE CATEGORIES OF NOH PLAYS
- GOD PLAYS (kamimono)
- WARRIOR PLAYS (shuramuno)
- WOMEN PLAYS (WIG PLAYS) (kazuramono)
- MISCELLANEOUS PLAYS
- Madness
- contemporary - DEMON PLAYS (kirimono)
Kyogen (Comedy)
- comedy performed between Noh Plays
- COMIC RELIEF between serious themes of Noh plays
- colloquial language
- everyday life humour
- masters and servants
Kabuki Theater
- ENERGETIC PERFORMANCES
- elaborate costumes
- dramatic action
- popular for rising middle class
Who is Okuni
*FOUNDER of Kabuki
> WOMAN
- performed radical dances
- mixed sensuality and rebellion
Onnagata
- MALE actors specialize in playing female roles
- high-pitched voices
- graceful movements
- elaborate costumes
Hanamichi (runway)
- runway in Kabuki theatres
> Extend into the audience - dramatic entrances and exits
- actors can engage audiences more directly
Jo-ha-kyu
- rhythmic pattern in Noh and other Japanese arts
*Rhythmic Structure
JO: slow introduction
HA: thorough development (build in tempo)
KYU: fast conclusion
Monomane (in NOH)
- dramatic imitation in NOH
- actors must portray the essence of character over literal representation
- actors embody BOTH physical and SPIRITUAL dimensions of the characters
Hashigakari (bridgeway)
*BRIDGEWAY
- connects stage and dressing room in Noh Theater
- Symbolizes transition between spiritual and physical worlds
Noh Masks
- wood
- represent gods, spirits, demons, humans
- express subtle emotions
- slight movements change expression
Shogunate’s influence on Noh Theater
*ASHIKAGA YOSHIMITSU
- patronized Noh
- Noh became refined as a courtly art
*Reflected the values of
> Samurai class - restraint & discipline
> Zen Buddhist principles - simplicity, mediation, detachment from the material world
- minimalist staging
- slow pacing
- themes of life impermanence
