Welcome to Horace Mann's Webpage on:

Traditional Japanese Music & Dance

 

Introduction:

 

 

I. A Brief History of Japanese Music and Dance

Folk music originated with the earliest people who came to the Japanese islands, the Jomun. Music included work songs, lullabies and communal music and dance which is associated with the worship of spirit deities (kami), group dances accompanied by response singing and pantomime dances such as a bird dance which portrays (tries to show) flying birds, and a whale dance which tells of the discovery of a whale carcass on the beach and the subsequent (following, resulting) division of whalemeat among the tribe.

During the Yayoi Period (c. 300 BC - 300 AD), the later settlers of the islands also had ritual dances. Archeologists have found clay images of dancers and musical instruments. The first historical record of Japan's history is the Kojiki, one of Japan's oldest books. It was put together in 712 AD but tells about much earlier events. It tells of a dance performed by Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, deity or goddess of divine movement, marriage and meditation.

Some of these dance styles may be seen today in the oldest styles of Shinto ritual dance accompanied by drums, flutes and chanting, and the masked shamanistic performance associated with Shinto festivals, and the performances of shrine priestesses.

Seventeen dance rituals were also performed in Shinto ceremonies and continue for up to eight hours or longer. Today it is common for people to drink sake (rice wine) during the performances. To keep the Shinto gods happy, only virgin girls and males can dance, not married women. Performers often wear carved masks. [Learn more about kagura where you can hear the music on Real Audio.]

In the Kofun (Tomb) Period (c. 300 - 700), these Shinto dances were supported by the rulers who united Japan. Shinto was the official religion early in that time, and the rulers encouraged the dance rituals to bring rain to the crops, good weather, etc.

Chinese and Korean influenced the later Kofun (Tomb) Period. New instruments from China and Korea (which came originally from Central Asia and India) were used at the imperial court in Japan. These dances were imitations of the imperial dances of Tang dynasty China and Silla dynasty Korea of the seventh century. It was greatly admired in Japan. This Confucian-style music and dance ("Gagaku") was imported by the early Japanese emperors. [See some images of these dances of the Imperial Court and imperial court. See an image of musicians of China's Tang court.

At the same time Buddhism was spreading. To enourage the spread of Buddhism, a new popular form of music and masked-drama was developing. It included a play with music that told the story of the Buddha and Buddhist miracles. The actors were masked and the play was preceded by a mime-dance procession (like a parade). This relgious dance-drama ("gigaku") remained popular in Japan until the Middle Ages.

Samurai theatre - noh and kyogen - developed with the rise of the samurai or warrior class (794 - 1333). There developed new types of popular entertainment: a blend of narrative (storytelling), juggling and acrobatics, harvest ritual music and dance. The musical dance-drama "noh" and its humorous skits between noh acts known as "kyogen" were brought into theaters. Accompaniment is provided by a three- to four-member ensemble of drums and flute and a six- to eight-member chorus whose primary function is to explain and comment on the action.

Popular theatre of the Edo period - Kabuki & Bunraku Puppet Theater of the Edo Period (1600-1867) were more lively and popular with common people. Music and dance continued in these theater arts.

 

 

II. Traditional Japanese Musical Instruments

 
 
 

 

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  • Taiko drums' history is given. Other sites about Taiko (including a brief tutorial) are given at http://www.taiko.com/rollingthunder.html For hundreds of years, people in Japan used the sacred taiko drum to drive away evil spirits, bring rain and offer thanks for a bountiful crop, and, in ancient times, to call warriors to gather and arm themselves. Visit San Francisco Taiko Dojo's excellent website and play different types of drums at their interactive site http://www.taikodojo.org/main.html
 
 

Shamisen

 

The three stringed instrument [shamisen] is shown. There is also an audio section, so you can hear this instrument by clicking at the bottom for Mac audio. (It will take about a minute and a half to download.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Japanese Bamboo Flute [shakuhachi] is found at http://www.j-music.com/aki/bamboo.html. It is further introduced at http://www.teleport.com/~moonbr/shakuhachi.html and see a musical score at one of its links.

 

 

 

The biwa was a popular instrument something like a lute (or guitar). In medieval times, it was used by travelling story-tellers and played as accompaniment to their stories, much like the minstrals in medieval Europe. To see a biwa, go to http://www2.gol.com/users/yoko/biwa.html. Learn more about the biwa players (from the 700s through the Middle Ages) at http://www.geocities.com/~cthulhu_666/AHTips3a.html#anchor2033394

biwa (from Shosoin by Garfias)

 

Music and Dance of the Noh and Kabuki Theaters

Folk Dancing & Singing (festivals, folk songs, street entertainment)

  • Many of the folk dances were done by the whole community according to their work and/or season, such as a harvest dance, fishing dance, etc., and was part of a festival or celebration. Summer festivals were often for warding off disease. Learn more about these folk festivals at http://www.jinjapan.org/today/culture/culture3.html#agr Also at the bottom of this next site, see the folk songs and dances in Shirakawa-go in Hokkaido (with RealPlayer/RealAudio 3.0) at http://shirakawa-go.com/e_kyoudo.html. The music is a "cultural asset" supported by the government, famous for its unique words, melody, and dance. They are always sung and danced when people have happy events, for example a wedding reception, the erection of the frame of a house, restoration of a thatched roof and so on.
  • For an example of how dancing was used to ward off disease by pleasing the God of Plague, see "Yasurai Matsuri". During the Heian Period (794-1191), around the time when the cherry blossoms faded and their petals strewed the streets of Kyoto, the city used to see outbreaks of epidemics. This festival was first held at such a time to calm to the spirit of the Plague God with songs and dances and to pray for safety from disease and accidents. Men dressed as red and black demons beat drums and gongs as they dance through the streets towards Imamiya Shrine. The festival is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Asset. See http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/kp/koto/saijiki/4/4up_e.html. Consider how other dances and performances were used to please other gods.
  • The Lion-Mask Dance of Kurikasa at http://www.ibm.park.org/Japan/hometown/yoro/geinoh-e.html This festival is to pray for a good harvest and safety of the town and the shishimai (lion-mask dance) takes its roots from the dances of the Ise Jingu shrine. The dance is very comical and acrobatic, and sometimes one man carries another on his shoulders to portray a giant lion. In Hokkaiko, Gifu Prefecture, there are other "lion dances" (or "Shishimai") explained and pictured at http://shirakawa-go.com/e_kyoudo.html and a "RealPlayer" video showing it. Also see a lion dance at http://www2.marinet.or.jp/~kankouts/hakone/midokoro/matsuri/matsuri04-e.html See a painting of a lion dance at http://www.kumon.co.jp/kaimg/ka129l.jpg
  • The "Awa Odori" (Dance festival of Awa which goes back almost 400 years) is shown at http://www.naruto-u.ac.jp/~e9662201/ This site even offers you a dance lesson!
  • The Bon Odori (Bon Dance) festival honors ancestors. The origin of this Buddhist dance honoring ancestors is given at http://www.scu.edu/SCU/Programs/Diversity/bonodori.html
  • A dance company in Kyoto tells a little about the history of dance (as a separate performing art from Kabuki) called Nihon Buyo, at http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~lavender/oto/etigo.ra [Requires Real Audio]

Sacred Dancing (Ancient Shinto Dance Rituals) and Buddhist Music

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  • Historically, kagura (dance of the gods) is the oldest form of dance in Japan. Originally performed by shamans, its influence is perceived in all Shinto dances performed at shrines today to appease or attract the favor of the deities.
  • Learn more about the Buddhist chants and songs ("shomyo") which some historians say provided the basis for Japanese popular songs and folk ballads, at http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~tengaku/Shomyo/Shomyo-e.html.

Dancing & Singing for the Court

Activities - Things to Do

  1. All groups may be required to make an oral report on their topic. See the oral report criteria before you begin your report. As part of your presentation, you may show part of the video on kabuki and noh drama, show pictures of musical instruments or noh masks, or other demonstrations, such as teach us a traditional folk song or dance. (You might even use the dance sequence from Karate Kid, Part II at the obun festival.)
  2. Create a webpage: Show what you learned and did through activities. Remember, a good webpage has an introduction, body, and conclusion (with a reflection) just like a good composition. (Add pictures from other sites or scan in photographs you have taken of your activities.) A good webpage has good information that is well researched and written in your own words. A good webpage may also have links to lead the reader to more information if they want to learn more.
  3. E-mail a student in Japan about what you are learning. Ask if traditional dances are still important in their lives, or if they have school dances and if so, what kinds of dancing they do. [Get an e-mail pal from your teacher.]
  4. Movie Review: "Karate Kid, Part II" This movie has Obun dance and fan dance in its story. Compare the way these dances should be done with the version shown near the end of this movie. (See "video resources" above.)
  5. Learn a Japanese folk dance or song, or learn to play a Japanese instrument such as the taiko, and perform it for the class. Explain its significance and history.
  6. Evaluate the websites listed above according to a five-star system. Which ones, if any, deserve all five stars? Set up your criteria for evaluation. Your evaluations may become part of this webpage.
  7. WEBQUEST! Show how much you know by completing this Japanese Music and Dance WebQuest!

 

Books and Magazines

  1. "The Japan of Today" discusses the "History of Dance in Japan" on pages 148 - 152, and "Music" on pages 142 - 144. This book is available from Japan Information Center (part of the Japanese Consulate) at 50 Fremont Street, Suite 2200, San Francisco, California 94105. Phone: [415] 777-3533. (This same information, but without pictures, is on-line and listed below.) See "Japan of Today: Music" on-line.
  2. "Noh" by Maruoka and Yoshikoshi, and "Kabuki" by Tota and Yoshida, Hoikusha's Color Books Series, Osaka, Japan, 1992. Small booklets written for tourists and others interested in Japanese culture. Available at Kinokuniya Book Store in Japantown, San Francisco. Phone: [415] 567-7625. Also check the public library.

Video and Audio Resources

  1. Video of a Taiko Drum competition held in Tokyo, Japan. This video shows the power of taiko performance. "Japan US Taiko Festival" and "San Francisco Taiko Dojo Live", and other videos are available from San Francisco Taiko Dojo and Taiko Showroom, 1581 Webster Street, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94115, Tel: [415]-92-TAIKO.
  2. Audio-casette of the koto is in your packet.
  3. The fifth of the "Living Treasures of Japan" (National Geographic, 1980) is a woman who plays and teaches the koto, a traditional instrument originally from China. [Ms. Yanekowa] This segment is about 4 minutes long.
  4. Videos from the Japan Information Center (part of the Japanese Consulate) show the Noh and Kabuki performances with their music and dance. (Videos and information are also available in Los Angeles, California. Phone: [213] 617-6700.)
  5. "The Karate Kid, Part II" has some scenes of Okinowa, Japan and the Obun Festival and a fan dance. After studying dance for this unit, you might be able to tell if the video accurately portrays these dances, or is it a bad "Hollywood version" filled with stereotypes? [See activities, below]

Community Resources

  1. San Francisco Taiko Dojo and Taiko Showroom, 1581 Webster Street, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94115, Tel: [415]-92-TAIKO. Visit their dojo (studio) to see lessons and practices, go to their store to see posters, musical instruments, and videos of their performances. You might even sign up for lessons! They often perform at festivals in San Francisco. Learn more about them by visiting their website at http://www.taikodojo.org/history.html. This group focuses on "the spiritual and martial arts aspects of the art" teaching "not only the skillful playing of percussion instruments, but also the discipline of mind and body in the spirit of complete respect and unity among the drummers. It is also the ultimate challenge to reach the point of unity of the drummer's spirit with the spirit of the drum." (This statement shows Zen Buddhist influence in music.)
  2. San Jose Taiko also is a taiko studio which offers lessons and gives performances.
  3. Dance groups sometimes perform at Japantown Peace Plaza (Post and Buchanan Streets, S.F.) For information of performances, contact the Japantown Merchants Association at [415] 202-0350 or [415] 567-4761 or check the calendar of cultural events of the Japan Information Center.
  4. Oakland's Michiya Hanayagi Japanese Dance Company teaches all ages of men and women the art of Japanese Classical Dance. Call Michiya Hanayagi Japanese Classical Dance School. Ms. Michiya Hanayagi, Tel : 510-652-0052, Address : 432 63rd Street,Oakland, CA 94609
  5. San Francisco's Fujima Rokushige Japanese Classical Dance Studio is the oldest in existence today in San Francisco. Mme Fujima and her students hold a recital once a year, and participate in the San Francisco annual Cherry Blossom Festival and many other community functions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Director, Ms. Rokushige Fujima, Tel : 415-752-4480, Address : 562 22nd Ave., San Francisco, CA 94121.
  6. In the Los Angeles area, be sure to learn more about the cultural events sponsored by the Japanese-American community (including an annual O-bun Festival and parades, part of their Nisei Week festivities). See http://www.black-kat.com/blackmoon/obon.html