1. Japanese Literature: Noh, Kabuki, and Haiku

2. Brief History of Japan
Heavy cultural influence from China and Korea (Buddhism, ways of farming, art, language / letters)
First emerged as separate state in eighth century C.E.; feudal dynasties began. Chose to be isolated.
12th to 19th centuries: Samurais ruled (shogun), emperor was only figurehead
1853: American Commodore Matthew Perry (with four warships) “requested” Japan to begin trading
1868: After civil war, shogun resigns and Emperor restored to power; once again, he is truly in charge of Japan. Emperor begins modernization of country, abolishes samurai class and feudal system.

3. Japanese Literature
Theater:
Noh
Kabuki
Poetry:
Haiku

4. Noh Oldest (formalized by 1400’s)
Stories are spiritual in nature (ghosts, demons, possessions)
Masks are worn
Audience is aristocratic / upper class
elegant, refined

5. Noh (page 2) Simple sets, little or no props
Stage has three sides for audience, connects to dressing room (separated by curtain)
Accompanied by music / “chorus”

6. A Traditional Noh Theater

7. Kabuki Developed around 1600’s Stories based on folklore, history
Highly stylized makeup
Appeals to middle class audience that often yells during performance
lavish, exaggerated

8. Kabuki (page 2) Elaborate sets, often using special effects
Extensive use of props, especially the fan
Stage has one side (long proscenium), walkway connects to rear of theater
Accompanied by music / “chorus”
omnagata: males performing as females

9. Comparisons: Kabuki and Elizabethan (Shakespearean) Theater
When thinking of how Elizabethan theater is like Kabuki, particularly A Midsummer Night’s Dream, consider:
Only men play female parts
Human characters interact with supernatural people / forces (fairies)
Use of songs
Exaggeration, especially for humor
Love of special effects (Globe Theater: trap doors, galleries, cannons)

10. Contemporary Influence of Kabuki & Noh
Japanese anime (cartoons) and manga (comic books)
Costume / makeup design for modern movies (such as Star Wars)

11. Haiku A form of minimalist Japanese poetry
Was opening stanza of longer poem before becoming stand-alone form
Traditionally, the subject is nature or the seasons
Attempts to be profound, or compare two unlike things
Consists of three lines and a certain number of syllables per line
Traditionally, haiku is
Because of language differences, Japanese haiku that is translated into English may not fall into this syllabic structure.

12. Japanese Haiku the first cold shower even the monkey seems to want
a little coat of straw.
old pond (fu/ru/i/ke ya)
a frog jumps (ka/wa/zu to/bi/ko/mu)
the sound of water (mi/zu no o/to)
--both by Matsuo Basho ( )

13. English Haiku A leaf falls forward – A tumbling red-gold toddler
Meets the ground surprised.
Moist snowflake gleams, perched
At the end of my own nose
Before it melts, like lost tears.
English Haiku by Adam Watson, 2008.