Medieval Theater in Medieval Theater in JapanJapan

Olena Olena BerezovskaBerezovska

Origins of the performing Origins of the performing arts in Asiaarts in Asia

China has been dominant and referential China has been dominant and referential culture in East Asiaculture in East Asia

The influence of BuddhismThe influence of Buddhism Dance and theatre during ancient timesDance and theatre during ancient times By the 4By the 4thth century BCE, impersonation of century BCE, impersonation of

other characters through makeup and other characters through makeup and costume was occurringcostume was occurring

Noh TheatreNoh Theatre

NohNoh means “talent” or “skill” means “talent” or “skill” During 14th century, Noh grew out of During 14th century, Noh grew out of

combination of Chinese performing arts, known combination of Chinese performing arts, known as as sarugaku sarugaku and traditional Japanese danceand traditional Japanese dance dengakudengaku

Major playwright/actors were Kannami and his Major playwright/actors were Kannami and his son Zeamison Zeami

After the civil war (1467-1568) Noh spread After the civil war (1467-1568) Noh spread throughout all the levels of societythroughout all the levels of society

Type of PlaysType of Plays

Kami (“god”) play – sacred story of a Kami (“god”) play – sacred story of a Shinto shrineShinto shrine

Shura mono (“fighting plays”)Shura mono (“fighting plays”) Katsura mono (“wig play”) has female Katsura mono (“wig play”) has female

protagonistprotagonist Gendai mono (“present-day play”)Gendai mono (“present-day play”) Kyojo mono (“madwoman play”)Kyojo mono (“madwoman play”) Kiri or kichiku (“final” or “demon”)Kiri or kichiku (“final” or “demon”)

The playThe play

The dialogue is sparse, serving as a mere frame The dialogue is sparse, serving as a mere frame for the movement and musicfor the movement and music

Consists of three plays Consists of three plays Kyogen,Kyogen, humorous sketches, are eprformed as humorous sketches, are eprformed as

inteludes between playsinteludes between plays A program may begin with A program may begin with okinaokina, an invocation , an invocation

for prosperity and peace in dance formfor prosperity and peace in dance form The The recitation (utai) recitation (utai) is one of the most is one of the most

important elements in the performanceimportant elements in the performance

Noh RolesNoh Roles

Shite – the principal actorShite – the principal actor Waki – subordinate actorWaki – subordinate actor

The kyogen actor, one of whom is involved in Noh The kyogen actor, one of whom is involved in Noh plays as a narratorplays as a narrator

Subsidary Roles: Subsidary Roles: attendant (tsure),a boy attendant (tsure),a boy (kokata), non-speaking walk-on (tomo)(kokata), non-speaking walk-on (tomo)

The Stage - ButaiThe Stage - Butai

The stageThe stage Temple roof supported by 4 columns Temple roof supported by 4 columns

– First Actor, Pillar, Mark Pillar, and Flute Players PillarFirst Actor, Pillar, Mark Pillar, and Flute Players Pillar– Each of these represents either the placement of the Each of these represents either the placement of the

actoractor’’s entrance, or the part of the stage in which the s entrance, or the part of the stage in which the musician stands musician stands

Sliding door- used by minor characters, Sliding door- used by minor characters, musicians, stage assistants for quick entrances musicians, stage assistants for quick entrances and exits. and exits.

3 real small pine trees3 real small pine trees– They stand for heaven, earth, and man along the pebble They stand for heaven, earth, and man along the pebble

pathpath Epiphany Pine- painted on the center wall Epiphany Pine- painted on the center wall

represents spirituality. represents spirituality.

Stage StructureStage Structure

Performers location on the Performers location on the stagestage

ButaiButai

Masks & CostumesMasks & Costumes

Noh masks can convey several different Noh masks can convey several different emotions and picturesemotions and pictures

There are over 200 kinds of different There are over 200 kinds of different masksmasks

TerasuTerasu – tilting upwards, – tilting upwards, kumorasukumorasu – – tilting downwardstilting downwards

Usually, only Usually, only shiteshite and and tsuretsure wear masks wear masks

Types of Noh MasksTypes of Noh Masks

KabukiKabuki

What is Kabuki?What is Kabuki? Kabuki- meaning Kabuki- meaning ““off balanceoff balance”” or or ““unconventionalunconventional”” Ka for music, bu for dance, and ki for Ka for music, bu for dance, and ki for skillskillAn energetic form of theatre that An energetic form of theatre that began around 1600 was founded by began around 1600 was founded by OkuniOkuni

She drew inspiration from Buddhist She drew inspiration from Buddhist dances with contemporary formsdances with contemporary forms

Plays that once lasted a full day, but Plays that once lasted a full day, but today only last about 5 hours. today only last about 5 hours. Includes themes of feuds, revenge, Includes themes of feuds, revenge, scandalous murders, romance, lover’s scandalous murders, romance, lover’s suicidesuicide

Kabuki ActingKabuki Acting

Highly stylized form of story Highly stylized form of story tellingtellingThe audience is aware they The audience is aware they are in the theatre watching a are in the theatre watching a play. play. Actors specialize in certain Actors specialize in certain characters. characters. Movement is also stylized Movement is also stylized

The PlaysThe Plays

The text of the play is less The text of the play is less important than the acting. important than the acting. To reveal emotions they To reveal emotions they display exaggerated facial display exaggerated facial expressions and strike expressions and strike dramatic poses. dramatic poses. Very similar to Western Very similar to Western musicalsmusicals

Types of PlayTypes of Play AragotoAragoto – exaggerated tales featuring fantastic characters – exaggerated tales featuring fantastic characters WagaotoWagaoto – realistic stories, often revolving the relationship – realistic stories, often revolving the relationship

between a man and a courtesanbetween a man and a courtesan JidaimonoJidaimono – great epics of the feudal period – great epics of the feudal period SewamonoSewamono – realistic plays, describing the lives of ordinary – realistic plays, describing the lives of ordinary

people during the Edo period, not about mythical heroes of the people during the Edo period, not about mythical heroes of the past, based on true eventspast, based on true events

ShosagotoShosagoto – concentrates rather on dancing than acting – concentrates rather on dancing than acting Tale of the 47 Loyal Assassins Tale of the 47 Loyal Assassins (Kanadehon(Kanadehon

Chushingura) – 10 hour tale with 10 acts andChushingura) – 10 hour tale with 10 acts and

a prologue (Asano Naganori, Kira Yoshinaka)a prologue (Asano Naganori, Kira Yoshinaka)

SeppukuSeppuku- ritual suicide- ritual suicide

Kabuki CharactersKabuki Characters

Aragota – heroesAragota – heroes Onnagata – females played by male Onnagata – females played by male

actorsactors Tachi Yaku - malesTachi Yaku - males

Makeup Makeup Known as Known as KumadoriKumadoriNot realistic looking Not realistic looking The face is painted with white The face is painted with white and bold lines, mostly red or blue. and bold lines, mostly red or blue. Red lines= Virtue/ strengthRed lines= Virtue/ strengthBlue= EvilBlue= EvilMie-poseMie-pose

CostumesCostumes

Stage StructureStage StructureKamite (stage on the left) – occupied by high-ranking charactersShimote ( stage to the right) – occupied by lower ranking- characters

BunrakuBunraku

What is Bunraku?What is Bunraku? Japanese puppet theater began in the 16Japanese puppet theater began in the 16thth century century Its popularity rising spectacularly in 1686 after the Its popularity rising spectacularly in 1686 after the

outstanding playwright outstanding playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon Chikamatsu Monzaemon began a collaboration with the magnificent chanter began a collaboration with the magnificent chanter Takemoto Gidayu I Takemoto Gidayu I who established the who established the Takemoto puppet theater in Osaka in 1684 Takemoto puppet theater in Osaka in 1684

Surpassed Kabuki in popularitySurpassed Kabuki in popularity

What Makes it Different?What Makes it Different? Bunraku puppets are one-half to full life-sizeBunraku puppets are one-half to full life-size They are controlled by 3 puppeteersThey are controlled by 3 puppeteers Major puppeteer appears bear-faced, while the Major puppeteer appears bear-faced, while the

others are "invisible" in black hoods others are "invisible" in black hoods Another unique component is that main Another unique component is that main

puppeteer control facial expressionspuppeteer control facial expressions

The PlayThe Play Bunraku plays reflect the prevailing Bunraku plays reflect the prevailing

Buddhist and Confucian morals of Buddhist and Confucian morals of Edo periodEdo period

Major themes were historical, Major themes were historical, legendary, or heroic taleslegendary, or heroic tales

Most contemporary plays about the Most contemporary plays about the conflict between social obligation conflict between social obligation and personal desire (and personal desire (giri-ninjogiri-ninjo) )

Stage StructureStage Structure• The first partition hides

the stagehand who dashes across the stage to draw the curtain

• The second partition is designed to conceal the lower body of the main puppeteer and left-arm puppeteer

• The third partition is a raised platform, which usually represents the interior of a house.

ButohButoh

OriginsOrigins ButohButoh is the name given to the variety of performance is the name given to the variety of performance

practices that emerged after the Second World War in practices that emerged after the Second World War in JapanJapan

Founders: Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo OhnoFounders: Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno It can be executed with or without audienceIt can be executed with or without audience In 1959, first butoh play by Tatsumi Hijikata In 1959, first butoh play by Tatsumi Hijikata “Kinjiki” “Kinjiki”

( “Banned Colors”), based on a novel by Yukio Mishima( “Banned Colors”), based on a novel by Yukio Mishima

Butoh’s featuresButoh’s features Search for an individual or collective memorySearch for an individual or collective memory Use of taboo topics :death, eroticism, mobilization of archaic Use of taboo topics :death, eroticism, mobilization of archaic

pulsationspulsations Extreme or absurd environmentsExtreme or absurd environments Slow hyper-controlled motionsSlow hyper-controlled motions Almost nude bodies completely Almost nude bodies completely

painted in whitepainted in white Upward rolled eye and contorted faceUpward rolled eye and contorted face Inward rotated legs and feetInward rotated legs and feet Fetal positionsFetal positions It can be purely conceptual with no movement at allIt can be purely conceptual with no movement at all Aesthetical features go against archetypes of perfection and Aesthetical features go against archetypes of perfection and

beautybeauty

SourcesSourceshttp://www.glopad.org/jparc/?q=en/adachi/stage

http://www.the-noh.com/en/world/stage.html

http://www.japan-zone.com/culture/kabuki.shtml

http://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat20/sub131/item715.html#chapter-13

http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?

ParagraphID=fkp

http://www.contemporary-dance.org/butoh.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67-bgSFJiKc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu5Vn1vQ5i4  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-fhUne-KnA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qcBSAwQVpw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGYDCYRyFrk

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!