Transcript Unit 3 Japanese Performing Arts

Unit 3 Japanese
Performing Arts
Influences of Culture
• Shinto – a religion meaning “Way of the Gods”
that is closely aligned with nature and spirit
worship.
• Buddhism – a religion that teaches suffering is
inherent to life, but humans can still be liberated
from suffering by mental and moral selfpurification.
• Japan has codes of behavior regarding sacrifice,
loyalty, and revenge and a samurai code of the
warrior.
QUESTION: How could these practices influence
performing art?
Early Japanese Theatre
•Shinto & Buddhist rituals
•Court Entertainments
•794-1195 CE
Nō (Noh)Theatre
• Noh Theatre – a complex form of classical drama
favored by the noble people of Japan.
• Zeami Motokiyo – established the noh theatre
structure. The most influential and important
figure of noh theatre.
• Stories came from literary or historical figures
that were familiar to audiences.
• Actors trained from childhood (singing, dancing,
acting, and mime)
• The passion of the character sometimes appears
as a spirit.
QUESTION: How do we include these types of
stories in our performing arts?
Noh Theatre Characters
• Shite – Main character, masked
• Waki – supporting character
(warrior, Shinto priest, monk).
No mask.
• Tsure – accompanying role
• Kyōgen – comedy play that
developed next to Noh. (comedy
interludes.)
• Chorus of ten men
Bunraku
• Bunraku – puppet theatre where the
texts are chanted and music plays in the
background
• Joruri – the chanted texts
• Chanters – people who perform the
voices and narrate the story
• Samisen – a three-stringed instrument
like a banjo that plays during bunraku.
Characteristics of Bunraku
• Puppets are handled by 3 people
- one for the legs
- one for the left arm
- Chief Handler – handles the head and right arm and is dressed
in an elaborate costume, unlike the others.
• Puppets are 2/3 life size.
Kabuki
• Kabuki – a popular type of theatre where stories range from
fantasy to reality and have a basis in dance.
• In Kabuki, actors imitate puppet type movements.
Characteristics of Kabuki
• Actors are trained from childhood in vocal
technique, dancing, and acting.
• Onnagata – male actors who play women’s
roles by imitating the essence of a
feminine personality through stylized
gestures.
• Costumes/makeup are elegant and
gorgeous.
QUESTION: Form a supported opinion of Japanese
performing art. Would this be something you
would like to experience in real life?