Japanese Theater study guide

vocab quiz on April 9

Nō

Live performances with masks with the purpose of conveying a theme to the audience; Japanese play that has been performed since the 14th century. Has five different types and has very serious themes. Includes masks, a shite, and a waki.

Ashikaga Period

Strict feudal system that was created under the Shōgun with the highest rank in the system being the samurai. Time from 1333-1573

Kan’ami

playwright and performer who co-founded Nō drama

Zeami

actor, performer, and playwright of Nō with his father. combined Zen buddhist ideals into Nō. Wrote and directed Nonomiya! Also included common themes or characters into Nō such as: a holy old man (god); a deity, a demon, a spirit, or a living man; obsessed human beings.

Matsukaze

“wind in the pines” or “pining wind"; also describes a popular Nō play about the spirits of two sisters, who die of grief while waiting for their lover, a nobleman in exile.

Shite

(main character) and his followers, the chorus members, and the kokata (children)

Waki

(supporting character) and his followers, to introduce the drama, lead the character toward the climactic moment. Always living characters and do not wear masks!

Kyōgen

A short farcical piece that is used as interludes between Nō plays. Descended from Sangaku (or Sarugaku), like Nō, it covers a wide range of comic subjects that place more emphasis on situations than characters. Situations in which there are characters such as the drunkard, cowardly samurai, ignorant lord, sly servant, greedy monk, shrewish woman, etc.

Hashigakari

The bridge in Japanese theater plays is a railed gangway leading from the dressing room. Along it are three small pine trees symbolizing heaven, earth, and man. Supposed to symbolize the bridge between the spirit and the physical world

Busu

"Delicious Poison," is one of the most famous and frequently performed short comedies (kyōgen) in classical Japanese theater. It tells a humorous story of two servants, Tarōkaja and Jirōkaja, who outwit their master.

Nonomiya

play written by Zeami about a shrine. The play follows a traveling monk who visits the historic shrine during a melancholy autumn evening. He encounters a woman, who is later revealed to be the spirit of Lady Rokujō.

Lady Rokujō

the ghost the monk meets at the Nonomiya shrine who was saddened from her attachment to Genji. (she was the widow of a crown prince)

Genji (Hikaru Genji)

prince who was romantically affiliated with Lady Rokujō

Mugen’Nō

dream play

Mono no aware

simultaneous existence of beauty and sadness

Yūgen

gentle gracefulness, mysterious beauty of impermanence (subtle, but profound; simple, but elegant; refined)

Dogu

might have been used in magic rites of fertility, exorcism, and cure of illness

Uzume’s trance

this was a wild, entertaining dance performance outside a cave for the sun goddess Amaterasu. caused the surrounding gods to laugh heartily, drawing Amaterasu out.

Amaterasu

Sun god; She is famously known for hiding in a cave (Heavenly Rock Cave) after a dispute with her brother, plunging the world into darkness, until she is lured out, restoring light to the world

Miko

a Japanese Shinto shrine maiden or priestess who assists with rituals, sacred dances (kagura), and divination. Often young, unmarried women, they historically acted as shamans or mediums, wearing distinct white kimono tops and red hakama trousers, embodying a "beautiful child" or shrine maiden role.

Shintō

"the way of the kami" or "way of the gods;" also are sacred shrines were kami are worshipped

Kami

god or the presence of a god

Himiko

A queen (or a shaman) who performed magical rituals of purification, healing, and divination

Haniwa

(clay images): they are dancers, musicians, horses, monkeys, huts and boats; played a role in funeral rites and in magic fertility cults. (**could have been used a source of manifestation. the sculptures could have been prayed to in order to ensure protection or good health for themselves or their animals)

Kagura

the court dance: ritualistic, preparing the conditions for the presence of the god (kami). the god is conjured and manifested through the prayer for rejuvenation and prolongation of life

sangaku

(“miscellaneous” or “scattered” music); ritualistic music and dance brought from the asian continent; acrobats, conjuring, juggling, comic skits

Dengaku

associated with harvest rituals

Gigaku

Masked court performance (almost like a parade); music and dance performance

Bugaku

an ancient Shinto ceremonial court dance: to appease the gods, to purify evil spirits, and pray for rain and a good harvest (just a dance ritual)

Sarugaku

monkey entertainment

Shōgun

feudal-era dictator who was usually just one person

Samurai

fighters for protection who carried a long sword on their left side + a shorter sword for cutting. They wore a long sash and kimono; always are ready to die