The Noh TheaterThe Noh Theaterand its Gesturesand its Gestures

Guerino Mazzola Guerino Mazzola guerino@mazzola.chguerino@mazzola.ch U & ETH ZürichU & ETH Zürich

Internet Institute for Music ScienceInternet Institute for Music Science

Kunio KomparuKunio Komparu

The Noh Theater—Principles and PerspectivesThe Noh Theater—Principles and PerspectivesWeatherhill/Tankosha, Tokyo & New York 1983Weatherhill/Tankosha, Tokyo & New York 1983

http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~rlneblet/nohhttp://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~rlneblet/noh

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/noh/index.htmlhttp://etext.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/noh/index.html

http://www.iijnet.or.jp/NOH-KYOGEN/english/english.htmlhttp://www.iijnet.or.jp/NOH-KYOGEN/english/english.html

•Muromachi period 1336-1568Muromachi period 1336-1568•NohgakuNohgaku = = NohNoh + + KyogenKyogen

= accomplished entertainment= accomplished entertainment

•Vocal music = Vocal music = utaiutai•Instrumental music = Instrumental music = hayashi hayashi (1 flute + 3 (1 flute + 3

drums)drums)•Acting technique = Acting technique = katakata (dance poses + action) (dance poses + action)•Dance elements = Dance elements = maimai (dance + utai + hayashi) (dance + utai + hayashi)•Fine arts, crafts = masks, robes, instrumentsFine arts, crafts = masks, robes, instruments•Architecture = Noh stageArchitecture = Noh stage•Time = mode of productionTime = mode of production•Space = unified space (= stage + public)Space = unified space (= stage + public)

•Art of time-space continuumArt of time-space continuum,,perfection —> stylization/formalizationperfection —> stylization/formalization•Comparable to avant-garde musicComparable to avant-garde musicincluding improvisation and chanceincluding improvisation and chance•Utai-bonUtai-bon (= chant book) contains (= chant book) contains script, score, rules for performancescript, score, rules for performance=> conductor superfluous=> conductor superfluous•Architectural space concept is Architectural space concept is - modular- modular- universal/multi-purpose- universal/multi-purpose•Negative spaceNegative space = = mama = stillness/emptyness = stillness/emptynessbefore and after performancebefore and after performance•Positive spacePositive space = = stage properties and stage properties and

dramatic activitiesdramatic activities•These These spaces are connected by timespaces are connected by time, no curtain!, no curtain!

Types of time and space:Types of time and space:

•Condensed timeCondensed time•Slippage of timeSlippage of time•Vanishing timeVanishing time•Reversed timeReversed time•Split timeSplit time

•Shift of spaceShift of space•Oscillating spaceOscillating space•Floating spaceFloating space•Expanding and contracting spaceExpanding and contracting space•Space that brings the audience „onstage“Space that brings the audience „onstage“

Noh = Noh = experience, responsibility, experience, responsibility, not appreciation!not appreciation!

Like tea ceremony, Like tea ceremony, unique in lifetime,unique in lifetime,not reproducible!not reproducible!

There are no Noh stars...There are no Noh stars...„„Never forget the beginner‘s mind!“Never forget the beginner‘s mind!“

A Noh program lasts whole dayA Noh program lasts whole day5 Noh plays + Kyogen are performed5 Noh plays + Kyogen are performed

There are There are five Noh principlesfive Noh principles::

1.1. Sancticity & magicSancticity & magic

2.2. Stages of beautyStages of beauty

3.3. Actor and audienceActor and audience

4.4. Aesthetic of discordAesthetic of discord

5.5. Five element theoryFive element theory

1. Sancticity & magic1. Sancticity & magic

Sancticity of space:Sancticity of space:Space of Space of „sacred dialog with the gods“„sacred dialog with the gods“

Magic in technique (from mimes):Magic in technique (from mimes):Acrobatics, mystical forcesAcrobatics, mystical forceswill power, autosuggestion:will power, autosuggestion:Merging self and otherMerging self and othermask + mirrormask + mirror

„„...the mind‘s eye is opened and the soul grasped; the ...the mind‘s eye is opened and the soul grasped; the true Noh, hithertoo invisible, comes alive...“true Noh, hithertoo invisible, comes alive...“

2. Three stages of beauty2. Three stages of beauty

• HanaHana = appearant beauty: blossom/flower = appearant beauty: blossom/flower

• YugenYugen = invisible beauty: performed sublimity = invisible beauty: performed sublimity

• RojakuRojaku(old quiet) = quiet beauty(old quiet) = quiet beauty

3. Actor and audience3. Actor and audience

• Self and other, active fusionSelf and other, active fusion

1.Curtain 2.Third Pine 3.Bridge 4.Second Pine 5.First Pine 6.Shite pillar 1.Curtain 2.Third Pine 3.Bridge 4.Second Pine 5.First Pine 6.Shite pillar 7.Eye-fixing pillar 8.Flute pillar 9.Waki pillar 10.Cut-through door 7.Eye-fixing pillar 8.Flute pillar 9.Waki pillar 10.Cut-through door 11.Back panel 12.Main Stage 13.Moat Steps 14.Pebble Moat 15.Side Stage 11.Back panel 12.Main Stage 13.Moat Steps 14.Pebble Moat 15.Side Stage 16.Rear Stage 17.Mirror Room16.Rear Stage 17.Mirror Room

4. Aesthetic of discord4. Aesthetic of discord

• Odd number important in Japan; against Odd number important in Japan; against symmetrysymmetry

• Center of shape ≠ center of space:Center of shape ≠ center of space:Dynamic balanceDynamic balance

Jo-Ha-KyuJo-Ha-Kyu = most important aesthetic principle: = most important aesthetic principle:JoJo = „beginning“ position = spatial element = „beginning“ position = spatial elementHaHa = „break/ruin“ = destruction, disorder = „break/ruin“ = destruction, disorderKyuKyu = „rapid“ speed, time element = „rapid“ speed, time element

Production principle for Noh program: Production principle for Noh program: Everything is dominated by Jo-Ha-Kyu.Everything is dominated by Jo-Ha-Kyu.

5. Five element theory5. Five element theory(odd number!)(odd number!)

Elements: Elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, waterwood, fire, earth, metal, water~ 5 breaths, 5 tones, 5 organs, etc.~ 5 breaths, 5 tones, 5 organs, etc.

Five Noh play categories:Five Noh play categories:god, warrior, woman, madness, demongod, warrior, woman, madness, demon

Have two time categories: Have two time categories: present timepresent timedream timedream time

=> 10 categories in plays: => 10 categories in plays: two time categories two time categories xx five play categories five play categories

Masks:Masks:

womanwoman demondemon madmad godgod warriorwarrior

Clothes &Clothes &Craft:Craft:

warriorwarrior

godgoddemondemon womanwoman

Every Noh play is one cross section of Every Noh play is one cross section of the life of one person, the the life of one person, the shiteshite..

The shite has an appearance (demon, etc.)The shite has an appearance (demon, etc.)and subject = one of the five elementsand subject = one of the five elements

The The wakiwaki is a is a kind of co-sub-kind of co-sub-ject and mirrorject and mirror

person to the person to the shite.shite.

Instruments of hayashiInstruments of hayashi

Utai‘s fushi unitsUtai‘s fushi units

katakata: movement patterns: movement patterns

Why are gestures dominant in Noh?Why are gestures dominant in Noh?Have three languages of human expression:Have three languages of human expression:• VocalVocal• FacialFacial• GesturalGestural

• Facial is impossible because of masksFacial is impossible because of masks• Vocal is ambiguous in Japanese, bad for expression Vocal is ambiguous in Japanese, bad for expression

of will, reserved to lyrical evocationof will, reserved to lyrical evocation

Noh is dance drama, no opera or balletNoh is dance drama, no opera or balletAll characters are choreographedAll characters are choreographedAll movements consist of All movements consist of

units of movement = kata (patterns)units of movement = kata (patterns)chant unit = phrase (12-syllabe line)chant unit = phrase (12-syllabe line)music unit = melodic + rhythmic unitsmusic unit = melodic + rhythmic unitsspace unit = za (hierarchy of places!)space unit = za (hierarchy of places!)

Everything is

Everything is

modular!modular!

Noh gestures are reduced to unit patterns (kata) Noh gestures are reduced to unit patterns (kata) and made symbolic.and made symbolic.

This enables much richer communicationThis enables much richer communicationto audience than by eveyday gestures.to audience than by eveyday gestures.

Very important for us:Very important for us:

• „„Shite waves a web of fantasy in Shite waves a web of fantasy in curves.curves.““

• „„Waki draws reality in Waki draws reality in straight linesstraight lines.“.“

Classification ofClassification of katas katas

Three types:Three types:• Realistic, e.g., Realistic, e.g., hold a book in your hand,hold a book in your hand,

jump into belljump into bell• Symbolic, e.g., Symbolic, e.g., weep = hand to face and backweep = hand to face and back

• Abstract, e.g., Abstract, e.g., zig-zag = beginning of end of zig-zag = beginning of end of many dances, or many dances, or extended fanextended fan

Three categories:Three categories:• Pure dancePure dance• DescriptiveDescriptive• DramaticDramatic

Have the Have the gliding walkgliding walk, ,

transports characters horizontally through spacetransports characters horizontally through space—> white socks!—> white socks!

One could understand Noh by observing feet!One could understand Noh by observing feet!

Interesting performanceInteresting performanceonly in upperonly in upperhalf of body!half of body!

katachikatachi = more than kata: = more than kata:chichi = deity, i.e., katachi = form/shape = = deity, i.e., katachi = form/shape =

exterior form of kata +exterior form of kata +characteristic usage characteristic usage (mask, clothes, character)(mask, clothes, character)

Dance = Dance = „text“ built from kata-units„text“ built from kata-unitsby enchaînmentby enchaînmentplus syntactical rulesplus syntactical rules

mai mai = = performed kata „text“ plus musicperformed kata „text“ plus musicClassification of mai according to elements Classification of mai according to elements (music, dance etc.)(music, dance etc.)

Noh = enchaînment of 100 types of Noh = enchaînment of 100 types of shodanshodan segments segmentsbasically 4 types: spoken/chant/instrumental/silencebasically 4 types: spoken/chant/instrumental/silence