Allie Beyer Asian Theater 111 Erika Dong April

Allie Beyer Asian Theater 111 Erika Dong April 5, 2001 Jason Kwan Luke Luan

Introduction • Map of Japan • Brief History of Japan – Muromachi, Edo, Meiji, and modern times • History of Noh Theater • History of Kabuki Theater • History of Dojoji

Map of Japan • Noh and other art forms developed in capital region and Nara province

Muromachi Period • (picture) Ashikaga Takauji, founder of the Muromachi period in 1338 • 1338 -1573 • Grandson Yoshimitsu (ruled 1358 -1408) first patron of Noh • Successors Yoshimochi and Yoshinori patronized other actors • Followed by Azuchi Momoyama Period (1568 -1600), ruled by Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Edo (Tokugawa) Period • 1600 -1868 • Age of peace and national isolation • Tokugawa founds new shogunate at Edo (Tokyo) • (pictured) Osaka Castle reconstruction • Ranking of society – Samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants • Merchant class enjoys Kabuki and Bunraku theater by early 1700 s • (pictured) Painting of Kabuki actor Otani Oniji III

Meiji Period • 1868 – 1912 • Fall of feudal system and political reform • Emperor Restored • Transition of nation-state • Strengthening of industries and military

Contemporary Japan • 1912 – Today • Economic expansion during Taisho Period (’ 12 -’ 26) • World War II and economic recovery during Showa Period (1926 -1989) • Prince Akihito succeeds to throne in 1989, being Heisei Period • Major Earthquakes in Kantou/Tokyo (1923) and Kansai/Kobe/Osaka (1995)

Miyako • Long Haired Princess • Temple of Dojoji • Kannon, god of mercy

Zeami Motokiyo (1363 -1444) • Son of Kannami Kiyotsugu, head of Yuzaki sarugaku troupe • Founder of Noh theater • Patronized by Yoshimitsu • Hardships in latter part of life • Wrote many plays and theoretical books

Luke when he wakes up

Noh after the Ashikagas • (pictured) Patronage by Toyotomi Hideyoshi • “official music” of Tokugawas (Keene 39) • Decline during Meiji Period • Revival after World War Two

Luke getting ready for a night on the town

Noh’s Predecessors • Gigaku and bugaku-masked dances in Imperial court, originally from China (Nakamura 58) • Dengaku-”field music” from countryside (Keene 30) • Ennen-ceremonial prayers that became plays, textual material for Noh • Sangaku (sarugaku)entertainment for commoners and illustration of sermons, direct ancestor of Noh (29)

Luke getting his groove on

The Noh Play Dojoji

Luke saying, “Please…no more pictures!”

Mishima Yukio(1925 -1970) • born with the name Kimitake Hiraoka • wrote 16 novels, 80 short stories and many essays • 1949 first major work Confessions of a Mask • 1953 published Death in Midsummer • 1966 directed and starred in film Patriotism • 1970 committed ritual suicide, Seppuku

Kabuki

Okuni’s dance

Shosagoto : “Fuji Musume” (Wistera Maiden)

Jidaimono : kanadehon chushingura (The treasury of Loyal Retainers) Sewamono: Benten Kozo (Benten the Thief)

Noh background setting in kabuki play

Kata : Performance Style Aragato Shosagoto

Kata : Performance Technique Mie Mai

Intruments 1 Shamisen Tsuzumi Taiko

Instruments 2 Takebue Geza ensemble offstage

Debayashi Ensemble

Costumes and Sets

Make-up

Stage Design Diagram of kabuki stage Kabuki curtains

Bibliographies • “Feudal Age. ” 13 March 2001. <gopher: //gan 1. ncc. go. jp/00/JAPAN/History/Feudal>. • “General Introduction and History. ” 13 March 2001. <http: //www. kt. rim. or. jp/~snoo/intro. E. html>. • “History of the Noh Theater. ” Japan Access. July 1999. 13 March 2001. <http: //jin. jcic. or. jp/access/noh/history. html>. • Keene, Donald. No and Bunraku: Two Forms of Japanese Theater. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990. • “Muromachi Period. ” Schauwecker’s Guide to Japan. 17 Sept. 2000. 13 March 2001. <http: //www. japan-guide. com/e/e 2134. html>. • Nakamura, Yasuo. trans. by Don Kenny. Noh: The Classical Theater. Performing Arts of Japan, Vol. 4. New York: Walker/Weatherhill (in collaboration with Tankosha, Kyoto), 1971. • “Traditional Performing Arts in Japan. ” Based on Japan: A Pocket Guide, 1996 Edition. The Web Kanzaki. 2 July 1996. 13 March 2001. <http: //www. kanzaki. com/jinfo/jart-perform. html>.