1. Japanese Noh Theatre

2. Directions
Copy everything down on 9R

3. What is Noh? Formed early 14th Century
Oldest transmitted performance art in the world
Integrated popular song and dance from the time period
Influenced by Buddism
Founded by Zeami (Zay-ahmee)

4. Zeami One of the most influential figures in Japanese Theatre
His treatise on Noh Fūshi kaden (Teachings on Style and the Flower) written 200 years before Shakespeare is still used today

5. Simplicity Unlike Kabuki, Noh is based on simplicity
No scenery and little if any props are used
Audience is not separated by a curtain
Chorus and musicians are onstage
Instead of pursuing realism, Noh pursues the expression of inner movement through spoken word, music and dance in an extremely simplified space.

6. Origins and history
In China, “Sangaku” and “Gagaku” were two types of performance
Sangaku – a public entertainment, included comical performances and parodies, acrobatic performances, juggling, and magic
Gagaku – solemn music and dance, largely ceremonial in the imperial court and aristocrats’ residences.
Sangaku spread among the commoners as entertainment performed at temples and shrines
Sangaku becomes Saragaku - the basis for Noh showing that Noh was developed from juggling and acrobatic performance

7. Forms and elements
Most Noh dramas are based on popular classic stories among ordinary people
Zeami’s stories fall under the style of “Mugen Noh” or “dreamy Noh” where the real world and the dream world crisscross.
Although it can be difficult to follow, each Mugen Noh’s structure is similar so audiences can learn the pattern

8. Characters in Noh The “waki” is a side character and a living person
The waki is often a wandering monk and/or a foe of the protagonist
This creates a structure where a living person meets the protagonist, a diseased character, who seeks salvation through the living person
Noh has minimal characters, it is not unusual that a drama is played by two characters

9. Five Categories of Noh Noh drama is classified into five categories:
God – takes the role of a god promising peace, happiness and fertility of all grains
Man (warrior) – often takes the role of a diseased man, such as the ghost of a samurai
Woman – appears as the ghost of a woman. Usually the love of the female ghost keeps her on earth and forces her to float around

10. Five Categories of Noh
Madness – takes the role of a crazy person. Madness does not mean mental insanity but rather a situation in which a person becomes frantic by thinking too seriously. This category can also be referred as “miscellaneous” which includes stories which are not classified in other categories
Demon – peforms as a demon or spirit in an overwhelming dance accompanied with drums and spectacular music

11. The noh stage

12. The noh stage
A Noh stage is an extremely simplified space which does not have a drop or drawn curtain between the stage and the auditorium (kensho).
Originally performed outdoors, but is now indoors designed to look like the open air stage, equipped with a roof, a gangway bridge (hashigakari), and pine trees planted on the bridge in perspective
Modest lighting to recreate natural light.
In many cases, large jars are buried under the main stage and the gangway bridge. These jars function not only to enlarge and improve the sound of stepping, music and speaking

13. The noh stage

14. The noh stage
Columns provide markers for shite who has limited vision due to the mask
Kagami-ita (back board) always a pine tree
Jiutai-za – chorus seating
Ato-za – seating for musicians (hayashi)
Koken – seating for stage managers
Hashigakari – gangway bridge used as a walkway and for scenes
Agemaku – curtain for characters (kiritoguchi for chorus, musicians and sm’s)
Kagami-no-ma – backstage
Kensho – audience seating

15. Masks 60 basic types of masks and over 200 different kinds of masks
Covering the face with a mask is related to the transformation of a person, just like make-up. It is said that a Noh mask has an element of spell, which provides spiritual power to the Noh actor.
The Noh mask is called omote.
Only the shite or his compainion (tsure) don masks
The waki is a living character and therefore does not
Usually, there is no mask assigned to a character. Rather, the type of masks to be used is designated for each drama. Therefore, it depends on the shite to decide which mask he will use

16. Masks It is unclear when Noh masks emerged.
Originally based more on religious tastes than artistic
As the focus towards subtlety grew, performers felt more and more need to conceal the change of their facial expressions and the ugliness of their aged faces
As Noh grew towards the modern age, mask designs grew significantly as mask makers became an independent occupation

17. Mask expressions Emotional expression is extremely difficult
Noh actors give expression through the well known gestures “teru” and “kumoru”
Terasu – raising the face slightly upwards makes the mask appear to smile
Kumorasu – lowering the face slightly downward makes the mask appear to weep
Simple and miniscule movements of the mask expresses the subtleties of human emotion

18. Types of masks Jo
Elder

19. Types of masks
Otoko
Man

20. Types of masks
Onna
Woman

21. Types of masks
Kishin
Demon

22. Types of masks
Kishin
Demon

23. Types of masks
Onryo
Ghost & Spirit

24. Types of masks
Onryo
Ghost & Spirit

25. Props As a rule props are seldom used on stage
The only exception is the “tsukurimono”
“Tsukurimono” are large stage props used to symbolize a house, grave, ship, bed, etc
Built of a bamboo frame it is meant to be symbolic of the item rather than recreate it

26. Props
Ship
Cobweb

27. Chants and music
Music is composed of vocal (utai) and instrumental (hayashi)
The utai is performed by the actors or the Jiutai (chorus) who describe the events, scenery and emotion of the characters, but are NOT characters on stage
There is musical scale in utai but rather determined by the shite or choral leader

28. Chants and music The hayashi is composed of four instruments
Fue or Nohkan - flute
Kotsuzumi – small hand or shoulder drum
Ozutsumi – large hand drum
Taiko – drum beaten with sticks

29. Dance and forms To perform Noh is “to dance Noh”
Specific parts of the drama also include dance (mai) which is dance and music combined
Several types of specific dances are performed in each play from the slow dance of the woman to the very fast dance of the demon
Even basic blocking is extremely detailed and done with precise movements

30. costume The costume is called Noh shozoku
A typical costume include the karaori (outer robe) which is extremely ornate
There are many rules for the color and style of costume
The main character decides what the wears on stage as long as they follow the rules

31. costume