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Musume Dōjōji
''Kyōganoko Musume Dōjōji'' (京鹿子娘道成寺), commonly called ''Musume Dōjōji'' (娘道成寺, "''The Maiden at Dojoji Temple''"), is a kabuki dance drama. It is the oldest surviving Noh-based Kabuki dance drama, which tells the story of a maiden who dances before a bell in the Dōjō-ji temple and then reveals herself to be a serpent-demon. The work is noted for its sequence of dances during which the performer dances for nearly an hour with nine changes of costume. It may be considered the most important piece in the kabuki dance repertoire, one that the onnagatas are required to learn to show their mastery of classic dances. It is classified as one of the ''hengemono'' (変化物, "change pieces") that involve quick change of costumes and roles. Geisha and other dancers may also learn to perform parts of the dance as solo buyō dance pieces. Origin ''Musume Dojoji'' originates from the Noh play '' Dōjōji'' which refers to the tale of a woman later named Kiyoh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dōjō-ji
is a Tendai school Buddhist temple in the town of Hidakagawa, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Founded in the Nara period, it has given its name to a number of plays, most notably the Noh drama '' Dōjōji''. The temple has numerous statues which are designated National Treasures, or Important Cultural Properties, as well as several structures with the Important Cultural Property designation. The precincts of the temple were designated a National Historic Site in 2013. History Although the foundation of the temple is not completely documented, it claims to have been founded in 701 AD at the request of Emperor Monmu, with the monk Gien (643-728) as its founder. According to folklore, Emperor Monmu acted on behalf of his wife, Fujiwara no Miyako, the mother of Emperor Shōmu. According to this legend, Fujiwara no Miyako was born to a family of ''ama'' fishermen in what is now the city of Gobō, Wakayama. Her parents were without children for many years but in response to fervent pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shirabyōshi
were Japanese female entertainers in the Heian and Kamakura periods who sang songs and performed dances. They danced dressed as men. The profession of became popular in the 12th century. They would perform for the nobility, and at celebrations. The word can also refer to the songs they sang and the dances they performed. They are sometimes referred to as courtesans in the English language, but by nature they were performers. Some did sometimes sleep with their patrons and give birth to nobles' children, but this was not their intended purpose as entertainers. The best known were Shizuka Gozen, Giō and Hotoke, who were featured in ''The Tale of the Heike''. History The name may be interpreted as "white beat" or "simple rhythm"; it may refer to the white robe they wore, or alternatively the rhythm of the songs that they sang and danced to, which were also performed by . means "white", although scholars believe that it should be interpreted as ; in this interpretation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mongaku
Mongaku (文覚) was a Japanese samurai and Shingon Buddhist priest of the late Heian and early Kamakura period. He was a close associate of shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, having contributed to the declaration of the Genpei War. Myōe was the disciple of his disciple Jōkaku. His secular name, before ordination, was Endō Moritō. He is also known as Mongaku Shōnin. Life Mongaku was born the son of Endō Mochitō, a samurai in the Watanabe faction of the Settsu Genji clan (a branch of the Minamoto clan). He initially served in the Imperial Palace Guards of the North Side. He fell in love with Kesa, the wife of Minamoto no Wataru, but killed her by accident. Out of repentance, he then ordinated as a priest, visiting sacred places across the country. Mongaku moved to live at Jingo-ji temple in 1168, and participated in its restoration work motivated by his reverence towards Kūkai. In 1173, he requested a manorial temple estate for Jingo-ji from Cloistered Emperor Go-Shiraka ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Benkei
, popularly known as simply Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk (''sōhei'') who lived in the latter years of the Heian Period (794–1185) ">/sup>. Benkei led a varied life, first becoming a monk, then a mountain ascetic, and then a rogue warrior. He later came to respect and serve the famous warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune, also known as Ushiwakamaru. He is commonly depicted as a man of great strength and loyalty, and a popular subject of Japanese folklore, showcased in many ancient and modern literature and productions. Early life Stories about Benkei's birth vary considerably. One tells how his father was the head of a temple shrine who had raped his mother, the daughter of a blacksmith. Another sees him as the offspring of a temple god. Many give him the attributes of a demon, a monster child with wild hair and long teeth. In his youth, Benkei may have been called —"demon/ogre child", and there are many famous ukiyo-e works themed on Oniwakamaru and his adventures. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bunraku
(also known as ) is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre, founded in Osaka in the beginning of the 17th century, which is still performed in the modern day. Three kinds of performers take part in a performance: the or ( puppeteers), the ( chanters), and musicians. Occasionally other instruments such as drums will be used. The combination of chanting and playing is called and the Japanese word for puppet (or dolls, generally) is . It is used in many plays. History 's history goes as far back as the 16th century, but the origins of its modern form can be traced to around the 1680s. It rose to popularity after the playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653–1724) began a collaboration with the chanter Takemoto Gidayu (1651–1714), who established the Takemoto puppet theater in Osaka in 1684. Originally, the term referred only to the particular theater established in 1805 in Osaka, which was named the after the puppeteering ensemble of , an early 18th-century ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tachiyaku
is a term used in the Japanese theatrical form kabuki to refer to young adult male roles, and to the actors who play those roles. Though not all ''tachiyaku'' roles are heroes, the term does not encompass roles such as villains or comic figures, which form their own separate categories. The hero or chief protagonist of a kabuki play is nearly always a ''tachiyaku'' role, and the head of a troupe or acting family typically specializes in these roles. The term, which literally means "standing role", once was used to refer to all actors, to distinguish them from musicians and chanters, who were called . (''Tachiyaku''). ''Kabuki Jiten'' (歌舞伎事典, "Kabuki Encyclopedia"). 2001–2003: Japan Arts Council. Accessed 17 January 2009. There are two main types of ''tachiyaku'' role: * '' [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kakko (instrument)
The is a Japanese double-headed drum. drums are usually laid sideways on stands, and are played on both drumheads with sticks known as . drums have been used in taiko ensembles, but are also used in the form of older Japanese court music. History The is derived from the Chinese , a drum popular in China during the Tang Dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...; the Korean is also derived from this drum. Construction One way in which the differs from the regular drum is in the way in which it is made taut. Like the and , the skin of the heads are first stretched over metal hoops before they are placed on the body, tying them to each other and tightening them making them taut. See also * * References External links Drums Japanese musical instrument ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tenugui
A , literally "hand-wiper", is a thin Japanese hand towel made from cotton. Typically, are about in size, plain woven, and almost always dyed with some pattern. Usually the long sides are finished with a selvage, and the short sides are just cut and so soon show some fraying. A may be used as a flannel (washcloth) or dishcloth. They are often used as headbands, souvenirs, decorations, or for wrapping bottles and similar items. Towels made from terry cloth have largely replaced in household use. However, are still popular as souvenirs, decorations, and as a head covering in kendo, where it functions as a sweatband and provides extra padding beneath the headgear (). References External links YouTube: Tenugidisplaying an easy method for tying a for kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords ( shinai) as well as protective armor ( bōgu). Today, it is widely prac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nagauta
is a kind of traditional Japanese music played on the and used in kabuki theater, primarily to accompany dance and to provide reflective interludes. History It is uncertain when the was first integrated into kabuki, but it was sometime during the 17th century; Malm argues that it was probably before 1650. The first reference to as music appears in the second volume of (1703). However, there is no musical notation in this collection, meaning that it is only possible to make observations about lyrics, which tend to be longer than other texts. By the 18th century, the had become an established instrument in kabuki, when the basic forms and classifications of crystallized as a combination of different styles stemming from the music popular during the Edo period. is considered a subset of . Many of the "classic" repertoire was composed in the 19th century, which is the time of the best-known composers as well. Many pieces are based on Noh theater, partly due to the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hanamichi
The is an extra stage section used in Japanese kabuki theater. It is a long, raised platform, running left of centre to the stage through the audience, connecting to the main stage. The is typically used for character entrances and exits, though is also used for asides and scenes that do not take place in the location as scenes on the main stage; the also typically features a trapdoor just before the runway meets the stage, placed to be visible to everyone in the audience, which is commonly used for character entrances. Some kabuki plays also require the use of two , running along the left and right of the audience. History The was first used in 1668 in the , in the form of a simple wooden plank that reached from the centre of the stage to the middle of the theatre. It was not used in performances, but allowed actors to step into the audience after a performance to receive flowers, with the word literally meaning "flower path." The modern style of , sometimes called ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
