KYOGEN
KYOGEN
- a kind of spoken drama that is based upon laughter and comedy
- performed along with Noh as an intermission of sorts between Noh acts, on the same Noh stage, and retains close links to Noh in the modern day
Kyōgen is thought to derive from a form of Chinese entertainment that was brought to Japan around the 8th century. This entertainment form became known as sarugaku and initially encompassed both serious drama and comedy. By the 14th century, these forms ofsarugaku had become known as Noh and kyōgen, respectively.
There are about 260 plays in the current Kyogen repertoire. Beginning with the servant Taro Kaja, they all feature large-hearted, strong characters who breathe life into the everyday situations of the common people in feudal times.
They can be divided into categories, according to the types of characters they depict, into plays featuring lucky people, gods of good fortune, farmers, daimyo (feudal lords), the servants Taro Kaja and Jiro Kaja, sons-in-law, wives, demons, warrior-priests, Buddhist monks, blindmen, thieves, or con-men.
THE CHARACTERS
Kyōgen plays are invariably brief – often about 10 minutes, as traditionally performed between acts of Noh – and often contain only two or three roles, which are often stock characters: Tarō kaja (main servant, literally "(common name) + servant"), Jirō kaja (second servant, literally "second son + servant"), and the master(shujin).
THE COSTUMES
The costumes of Kyogen are patterned after the clothing of the ordinary people of medieval times; they are simple, yet incorporate many unconventional shapes and designs. Compared with the sumptuous weave of the elegant Noh costumes, the costumes in Kyogen are mostly dyed in light, attractive patterns.
Kyogen has about 20 different types of masks, depicting everything from old people and ugly women to non-human characters, including deities, ghosts, demons, and the spirits of animals and plants.
- a kind of spoken drama that is based upon laughter and comedy
- performed along with Noh as an intermission of sorts between Noh acts, on the same Noh stage, and retains close links to Noh in the modern day
Kyōgen is thought to derive from a form of Chinese entertainment that was brought to Japan around the 8th century. This entertainment form became known as sarugaku and initially encompassed both serious drama and comedy. By the 14th century, these forms ofsarugaku had become known as Noh and kyōgen, respectively.
There are about 260 plays in the current Kyogen repertoire. Beginning with the servant Taro Kaja, they all feature large-hearted, strong characters who breathe life into the everyday situations of the common people in feudal times.
They can be divided into categories, according to the types of characters they depict, into plays featuring lucky people, gods of good fortune, farmers, daimyo (feudal lords), the servants Taro Kaja and Jiro Kaja, sons-in-law, wives, demons, warrior-priests, Buddhist monks, blindmen, thieves, or con-men.
THE CHARACTERS
Kyōgen plays are invariably brief – often about 10 minutes, as traditionally performed between acts of Noh – and often contain only two or three roles, which are often stock characters: Tarō kaja (main servant, literally "(common name) + servant"), Jirō kaja (second servant, literally "second son + servant"), and the master(shujin).
THE COSTUMES
The costumes of Kyogen are patterned after the clothing of the ordinary people of medieval times; they are simple, yet incorporate many unconventional shapes and designs. Compared with the sumptuous weave of the elegant Noh costumes, the costumes in Kyogen are mostly dyed in light, attractive patterns.
Kyogen has about 20 different types of masks, depicting everything from old people and ugly women to non-human characters, including deities, ghosts, demons, and the spirits of animals and plants.