Fusanosuke

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Japanese.

能 – noh

Written by admin on Oct 17th, 2009 | Filed under: Japan: event

Theater Noh.
能 --のう -- (n) (1) talent; gift; function; (2) noh (theatre
Noh is traditional Japanese theater originating from the 14th century. It is based on the very Japanese concept of procedure typical for many Japanese arts - 序破急 --じょはきゅう-- roughly "beginning, middle, rapid".

  • 序 --じょ -- (n) (1) order; ordering; (2) beginning; start;
  • 破 --は-- (n) (in gagaku or noh) middle section of a song
  • 急 --きゅう-- (adj-na) (1) urgent; sudden; abrupt; (2) sharp; steep; precipitous; (3) rapid; swift; fast; (n) (4) emergency; crisis; (5) hurrying; haste;

The Noh performers are mostly:

  • The main character - 仕手--して--(n) (1) doer; performer; (2) protagonist (in noh or kyogen); hero; leading part; main character; (3) (仕手 only) speculator (in trading);
  • The support character - 脇 --わき-- (n) (1) (usu. 脇) side; aside;
  • The actor(s) performing interludes- 狂言 --きょうげん-- (n) (1) kyogen (farce played during a Noh cycle); play; drama;
  • The musicians who play 4 instruments used in Noh  - 囃子--はやし-- (n) Japanese orchestra; band; accompaniment

I would not dare to suggest that I know anything about Noh, but there is plenty of literature describing and analyzing Noh theater.  I just wish to remember the main terms in case I happen to see Noh performance.



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