What is a Japanese theater? Types of Japanese theater. Theater no. The Kyogen Theater. Kabuki Theater

Japan - a mysterious and original country, to know the essence and traditions of which the European is very difficult. To a large extent this is due to the fact that until the middle of the 17th century the country was closed to peace. And now, in order to feel the spirit of Japan, to know its essence, one must turn to art. In it, as nowhere is expressed the culture and world outlook of the people. One of the oldest and almost unchanged art forms is the Japanese theater.

History of the Japanese Theater

The roots of the Japanese theater go back to the distant past. About 1500 years ago dances and music came to Japan from China, Korea and India, and Buddhism came from the mainland - this is the moment that marks the beginning of the birth of theatrical art. Since then, the theater exists on the continuity and preservation of traditions. Scientists suggest that the Japanese theater contains even parts of the ancient drama. This could be facilitated by the country's relations with the Hellenistic states of the Near East, as well as by India and China.

Each theatrical genre, which came from the depths of centuries, retained its original laws and individuality. Thus, plays of playwrights of the distant past and today are put on the same principles as many centuries ago. The merit in this belongs to the actors themselves, who store and transmit the ancient traditions to their pupils (usually their children), forming the acting dynasties.

The Birth of the Theater

The birth of the theater in Japan is associated with the appearance in the VII century of the pantomime of Gigaku, which in translation means "acting", and the dance of Bugaku - "the art of dance." A different fate befell these genres. Gigaku up to the 10th century occupied the stage of theaters, but could not withstand competition with more complex pantomime genres and was superseded by them. But Bugaku are performed today. At first these ideas merged into temple festivals and courtyard ceremonies, then they were performed separately, and after the restoration of power this genre of the Japanese theater went through a flourishing and gained even greater popularity.

Traditionally, the following types of Japanese theater are distinguished: but, or nogaku, intended for aristocracy; Kabuki, a theater for ordinary people, and a bunraku - a puppet theater.

Traditional Japanese Theater Today

In modern times, European art has come to Japan, and consequently, a modern theater. Began to appear mass performances on the Western model, opera, ballet. But the traditional Japanese theater managed to defend its place and not lose its popularity. Do not think that he is not ruled by time. Actors and spectators are real people. Gradually change their interests, tastes, perception. Inevitably, the penetration of modern trends into a theatrical form that has been established and developed over the centuries. So, the time of submission was shortened, the pace of action accelerated, because today the viewer does not have as much contemplation time as there were, for example, in the Middle Ages. Life dictates its laws, and the theater gradually adapts to them.

Theater of the aristocracy

The theater was born in the 14th century and became very popular with aristocracy and samurai. Initially, it was intended exclusively for the upper class of Japan.

Developing over many centuries, the theater has turned into a national tradition, which contains a deep philosophical and spiritual meaning. The scenery is simple, the main emphasis is on the mask, the significance of which is emphasized by the kimono. Kimonos and masks are passed to each school from generation to generation.

The performance is as follows. Shite (the main character), to the sounds of flutes, drums and chorus, tells stories about peaceful life and battles, victories and defeats, murderers and monks, whose heroes will be spirits and mortals, demons and gods. The narrative is necessarily conducted in an archaic language. But - the most mysterious genre of the Japanese traditional theater. This is explained by the profound philosophical significance of not only the masks themselves, but also all the details of the presentation, which carry a secret meaning, accessible only to the sophisticated spectator.

The theatrical performance lasts from three and a half to five hours and contains several plays that alternate with dances and miniatures from the life of ordinary people.

Masks but

But - the Japanese theater of masks. Masks are not attached to any specific role, they serve to convey emotions. In combination with the symbolic actions of actors and music, the masks create a unique atmosphere of the theater of Tokugawa times. Although, at first glance, it's hard to believe that masks do indeed serve to convey emotions. Feelings of sadness and joy, anger and humility are created through the play of light, the smallest inclinations of the actor's head, compositions of the speech chorus and musical accompaniment.

It is interesting that different schools use different kimonos and masks on the same representations. There are masks that are used for some roles. Today there are about two hundred masks, preserved to this day and made of Japanese cypress.

Representations but

The theater is alien to realism and built, rather, on the imagination of the audience. On the stage, sometimes without any scenery, actors perform a minimum of actions. The character does just a couple of steps, but his speeches, gestures and choral accompaniment reveal that he has come a long way. Two heroes, standing side by side, may not notice each other until they are face to face.

The main thing for the theater is gestures. Gestures combine both those that have a certain value, and those that are used because of beauty and do not make any sense. A special intensity of passions in this theater transmits complete silence and lack of movement. An inexperienced viewer is very difficult to understand at a similar moment what is happening on stage.

Kyogen Theater

Theater Japanese kyogen appeared almost at the same time as the theater but, however much it differs from its theme and style. But - the theater of drama, experiences and passions. Kyogen is a farce, a comedy filled with simple jokes, scurries and empty vanity. Kyogen is accessible to everyone, the meaning of the play and the actors' actions need not be deciphered. Traditionally, the Kögen performances serve as an interlude in theatrical performances.

In the repertoire of the theater Kyogen includes plays of the XV-XVI centuries. This is approximately two hundred and sixty works, whose authors are mostly unknown. Until the end of the XVI century, plays were passed from mouth to mouth from teacher to student and were not written down on paper. Only at the end of the XVII century began to appear written media.

In Kögen there is a clear classification of plays:

• About the gods;
• About the feudal lords;
• About women;
• About evil spirits, etc.

There are productions in which small family troubles are covered. In them the impermanence of men and the insidiousness of women are played out. The greatest part of the plays is dedicated to a servant named Tarot.

The characters of kyogen are ordinary people, in the life of which nothing particularly significant occurs. At the beginning of the play, all the characters are presented to the audience. The actors of the theater are divided into groups: the main ones are site, the secondary ones are ado, the third-degree ones are koados, the fourth by value - chure and the fifth by value - tomo. The largest schools of acting kyogen are Izumi and Okura. Despite the fact that both kyogen and kyogen are related, actors for these theaters are prepared separately.

The genre of the Japanese Kyogen theater provides for three types of costumes:

• Master;
• servants;
• women.

All costumes are made according to the fashion of the XVI and the beginning of the XVII century. Sometimes masks can be used in theatrical performances. But these are not masks but expressing emotions - these are masks that determine the character's role: the old woman, the old man, the woman, the demon, the god, animals and insects.

After the end of the Second World War, the Kögen Theater was renewed, and the plays began to be performed independently, and not only in the framework of theater performances.

Kabuki - theater of the temple dancer

Representations kabuki were originally designed for all comers. The Kabuki Theater appeared at the beginning of the Tokugawa era and is associated with the name of the temple dancer and the daughter of the blacksmith Izumo no Okuni.

The girl moved to Kyoto in the 17th century, where she began performing ritual dances on the banks of the river and in the center of the capital. Gradually, the repertoire began to include romantic and erotic dances, and musicians joined the show. Over time, the popularity of her speech has increased. Perch quickly managed to combine in the performances of dances, ballads, poems into a single whole, creating a Japanese kabuki theater. Literally the name of the theater is translated as "the art of singing and dancing". At this point in the performances involved only girls.

The popularity of the theater grew, often high-ranking residents of the capital began to fall in love with the beautiful dancers of the troupe. The government did not like this state of affairs, especially since for the love of actresses began to arrange fights. This, as well as overly candid dances and scenes led to the fact that a decree was soon issued banning the participation of women in the performances. So, onna kabuki, the women's theater, ceased to exist. And on the stage was the male Japanese theater - kakuki kakuki. This prohibition applies to all theatrical performances.

In the middle of the XIX century the official decree was abolished. However, the tradition of performing all roles in the performances of men has been preserved to this day. Thus, the canonical Japanese theater is the male Japanese theater.

Kabuki today

To date, the Japanese Kabuki Theater is the most popular of the traditional dramatic arts. Actors of the theater are known in the country and are often invited to television and film shootings. Female roles in many troupes began to be performed by women again. Moreover, there were completely female theatrical collectives.

The essence of the theatrical performances of kabuki

The Kabuki Theater embodies the values of the Tokugawa era, they are the basis of the stories. This, for example, is the law of justice, in which the Buddhist idea of the reward of the suffering person and the indispensable punishment of the villain is embodied. Also the Buddhist idea of the fleetingness of the earth, when high-born families or mighty leaders fail. The conflict can often be based on the clash of such principles of Confucianism as duties, duty, respect for parents, and personal aspirations.

The make-up and costumes correspond to the roles performed by the actors as much as possible. Most often, the suits correspond to the fashion of the Tokugawa times, are elegant and maximally stylized. Masks in performances do not use, they are replaced by a complex make-up that reflects the content of the role. Wigs are also used in the performances, which are classified according to their social status, age and occupation of the characters.

Bunraku Theater

Bunraku is a Japanese puppet theater. Sometimes it is still mistakenly called joriuri. Dzöruri is the name of the theatrical performance of the Bunraku and at the same time the name of one of the dolls, the unfortunate princess. It was with ballads about this heroine that the theater began. Initially, he was not a puppet, but the songs were sung by vagabond monks. Gradually the musicians joined the show, the spectators were shown pictures, depicting heroes. And later these pictures turned into dolls.

The most important in the theater is a hidayu - a reader, whose skill depends on the success of the whole performance. The reader not only performs monologues and dialogues, his task is to make the necessary sounds, noises, creaks.

By the middle of the 17th century, the basic canons of musical performance and recitation in the bunraku had developed, but the puppets themselves continued to change for a long time. Over time, the technique of controlling one doll by three people arose. The Bunraku Theater of Japan has an ancient tradition of making dolls. They do not have a body, it is replaced by a wooden rectangular frame interwoven with threads to control the head, hands and feet. And the legs can only be for male dolls and then not always. A lot of layers of clothes are put on the frame, which gives the volume and similarity to the human figure. The head, hands and, if necessary, the legs are removable and put on the frame if necessary. Hands and feet are extremely mobile and made so that the doll can even move a finger.

The technique of controlling the doll remained the same, although improved - three actors are needed to manipulate one doll, whose height is two-thirds of a person's height. Actors do not hide from the public, but are immediately on stage, they are dressed in black masks and robes. Black color also has side scenes, a backdrop of the stage, a curtain and a playground for musicians. Against this background, the scenery and dolls in colorful dresses and white-painted hands and faces stand out clearly.

The main theme of the theater bunraku is the image of clashes of feelings and debt, "giri" and "ninja". In the center of the narrative is a person endowed with feelings, aspirations, a desire to enjoy life. However, it interferes with public opinion, duty, social and moral standards. He has to do what he does not want. As a result, the conflict between duty and personal aspiration leads to tragedy.

Theatrical Shadows

The theater of shadows goes back to ancient times. The place of its origin is Asia, and it reached its greatest prosperity in China. It was from there that the Japanese Shadow Theater came.

Initially, the figures used figures carved from paper or leather. The stage was a wooden frame, covered with white cloth, behind which were hiding actors, controlling figures and singing. With the help of directional light, the figure-figures were reflected on the screen.

The Shadow Theater in different regions had its own kinds of figures and a repertoire of songs performed.

Yose Theater

Yose is a traditional Japanese comic theater. He was born in the XVII century, and the first performances were arranged in the open air. But with the popularity of the theater began to appear special houses for such representations - eSeba.

The plays of the theater belong to the genre of Rakugo - satirical or comic stories, invariably with an unexpected ending, filled with puns and witticisms. These stories developed from anecdotes created by rakugoka - professional narrators.

Dressed in a kimono, the performer sits down on the pillow in the middle of the stage, in his hands usually a towel and a fan. The heroes of the narrative became people of different classes, the subjects of the stories were not limited to anything. The only thing that was unchanged was that the stories were ridiculous, connected with political, everyday, topical and historical situations.

Most of the stories were created in the period of Edo and Meiji, so the modern viewer is little known and alien to the described traditions, life and problems. In this regard, many Rakugo actors write satirical novels on topical topics themselves.

Another genre of yose is the manzai. This is a comic dialogue, its roots go into traditional New Year's performances, which were accompanied by songs, dances and playing comedy scenes. Gradually, the elements of farce, musicals and other genres entered into the manzay, which made it even more popular and allowed to get on television.

The Yose Theater is represented both by the genres of nanivabusi (a kind of ballad) and by the codan (artistic reading). The Kodan is a story based on the performance of wandering artists. The original themes of the stories (battles of the past) expanded, and it included family conflicts, court cases of legendary judges, political events, unusual cases in the lives of ordinary citizens. However, not all topics were encouraged by the authorities. Often speeches were even banned.

Synopsis

Traditional Japanese theater is a multicolored and complex world, the actors of which are actors, musicians, masks, scenery, costumes, make-up, dolls, dances. All this forms a unique and unique mysterious world of Japanese theatrical art.