What does the word "kabuki" mean and other little-known facts about Japanese theater

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Kabuki is more than just classic Japanese theater. This is a whole art that touches not only interesting topics and plots, but also the acting, masterful musical arrangement and, of course, the scenery. Today, kabuki is a masterpiece of world heritage, about which we will tell you a few curious and little-known facts.

1. Kabuki is an important intangible cultural property

In 2005, UNESCO declared kabuki as one of 43 Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. And in 2009, it was officially named and recognized as an "intangible cultural heritage" and thus an art form that is highly valued throughout the world.

2. The origin of the word kabuki comes from kabuku

Kabuku is the archaic word katamuku, which means "to bend over." By the end of the Sengoku period and by the beginning of the Edo period, people who dressed pretentiously and did unthinkable things were called kabukimono. The kabukimono people invented a dance called the kabuki odori. This dance had bright and sharp movements, as well as outfits that were unthinkable at that time.

3. Kabuki odori was invented by a woman, Okuni

It is not known exactly who this woman was, but she was the first to perform kabuki odori back in 1603, and after that she was mentioned more than once in the literature. The first kabuki odori was about how the kabukimono flirted with a woman in a tea shop, and this dance contained a light erotic overtones.

4. Kagema - secret room

In addition to traditional kabuki, there was also youjyo kabuki, where sex workers were the protagonists of the scene. Yujo took the stage, hiding behind the skins of tigers or panthers, and their dances were distinguished by a special attractiveness and frankness, telling about love joys, relationships and emotional experiences. In addition, there was another type of kabuki called wakashu (or wakashu), which was aimed at homosexual topics. Such performances and entertainment took place both in public and behind the closed doors of a secret room - kagema.

5. Conflicts and showdowns based on wakashu and yujo

Wakashu and yujo were so popular that most clients were unconditionally willing to shell out fabulous sums for one private or public performance by young actors. Also, some sources say that the actors of yuzd and wakashu, in addition to dancing, provided intimate services, which is why many regulars often fought in attempts to choose a partner for comfort. As a result, the government banned this kind of kabuki, but it took a long ten years to completely close them.

6. All actors in kabuki are men

Generals, merchants, children, princes, princesses, sex workers, young women, old women, ghosts, and many other roles, all were usually played by men. The only differences between the two were dance movements, outfits, makeup and hairstyles, allowing the viewer to understand who the actor is portraying while standing on stage.

7. Play and dance

Kabuki kyugen (kyugen means play) has stories that actually happened in the past (for example, the death of a general), or a fictional story that takes place in a certain era. In stories, they use the same characters (some of whom did exist) in the same era, but change what happened. The result is several stories that contain the same world setting, but with different plots. Besides the play, the kabuki has buyo, which means dance. Consequently, such performances occur without words, because the main thing in them is movement and gesture, which is a narrative visualization.

8. Aliases for programs

During the Edo period, it was popular to name programs using the same sounding characters or characters with an odd number of strokes. As a result, programs had names that could not be read properly. But now almost all programs have aliases. For example, Miyakodori Nagareno Shiranami's nickname is Shinobu no Souta.

9. Men in black

People dressed in black are called chicken kuken. They move or transfer props to the actors. But at the same time, neither the actors nor the audience should see them.

10. Hishigi

Hisigi are an important part of kabuki. With the help of this musical instrument, they announce the beginning or end of the performance, give rhythm to the lines of the actors, emphasize the sound of the actor's walking, and so on. Sometimes musicians hit the floor with them to set the right rhythm.

11. Makeup

Kabuki makeup is different and reflects the character of the character. The less human the characters, such as ghosts and demons, the more bizarre their makeup becomes. It emphasizes the muscles and veins of the face. Red is used for good characters, blue for enemies, and brown for demons or hobgoblins.

12. Freeze

Kabuki has one very unusual direction called Mi. It's kind of like stopping motion in a movie. Mi emphasizes the scenic beauty of the entire scene, including the actor, motionless in the right position at a certain moment.

13. Professional viewers

In addition to all this, kabuki has an act called kakegoe, which literally means shouting out. A group of professional spectators shout out the actor's name in order to praise the beauty of his acting.

14. Stage names

The stage names are called Myouseki. The act of inheriting a name is called Shuumei. As actors gain experience, they inherit more and more famous names. An actor's blood child would have inherited his name, but sometimes names are inherited by other people, depending on their skill and technique. When actors inherit famous names, they announce it on stage. Besides Myuseki, the actors also have Yagou, which is the name of the family.

15. Music

Kabuki music is either sung by a person (a special manner of singing), or performed by small drums, Japanese flute, shamisen, and so on. Accompanied by the rhythm of hishigi, as mentioned above, kabuki music is very unique in its own way.

And in continuation of the topic - and about how the ancient Greeks had fun.