derived sino japanese word skill talent major form classical japanese musical drama performed 14th century developed son oldest major theatre art regularly performed today traditionally program includes plays comedic plays abbreviated program plays piece common presentations today play presented beginning especially new years holidays special occasions based tales traditional literature supernatural transformed human form hero story masks costumes props dance based performance requiring highly trained actors musicians emotions primarily conveyed stylized conventional gestures iconic masks represent roles ghosts women children old people written ancient japanese language text describes ordinary people twelfth sixteenth centuries having strong emphasis tradition innovation extremely codified regulated system history origins word means skill craft talent particularly field performing arts context word fun music form word classical tradition highly valued today refers historical genre theatre originated mid 14th century continues performed today originated 8th century transmitted china japan time term referred types performance featuring song dance comic sketches subsequent adaption japanese society led traditional art forms performing art elements elements rural celebrations performed connection rice planting popular entertainment including traditional dances performed female dancers 12th century ancient music dance performed beginning 7th century evolved studies actors 14th century indicate members families specialized performing arts performed traditional performance arts generations research reveals arguably oldest school descendant performer introduced extinct masked drama dance performance japan theory suggests originated struggling claim higher social status catering power new ruling class time beginning period marked increasing power class strengthened relationship court favorite art form able art form newly formed relationship 14th century strong support patronage able establish prominent theatre art form time son brought essentially present day form period renowned actor great versatility fulfilling roles graceful women year old boys strong adult males presented work year old child actor play age fell love position favor court caused performed frequently era era continued aristocratic art form supported feudal lords wealthy sophisticated popular middle class focused new experimental entertainment preserve established high standards historic authenticity remained unchanged era capture essence performances given great masters detail movements positions reproduced generally resulting increasingly slow ceremonial tempo time modern era fall formation new modernized government resulted end financial support government entire field experienced major financial crisis shortly restoration number performers stages greatly diminished support imperial government eventually regained partly appeal foreign diplomats companies remained active era significantly reach catering general public performing theatres major cities tokyo osaka japanese government designated degree legal protection tradition accomplished practitioners founded government stages regular performances courses train actors leading roles inscribed representative list cultural heritage humanity theatre terms encompasses performed plays space compared relies use masks derived humorous plays reflected comic dialogue concept virtually element including compiling program plays play songs dances plays basic rhythms performance means beginning means breaking means rapid urgent term originated ancient music indicate gradually increasing tempo adopted japanese traditions including tea ceremony poetry flower arrangement incorporated traditional play program play second fourth plays fifth play fact categories discussed created program represent play category selected performed order play broken parts introduction development conclusion play starts slow tempo gets slightly faster performers roles actors begin training young children traditionally age historically performers exclusively male daughters established actors begun perform professionally 1940s male female professional performers training isolated levels types acting lower degrees emphasis movement violence higher degrees represent opening flower spiritual prowess extant schools acting called schools train actors school family carries school considered important holds power create new plays modify lyrics performance modes actors trained schools schools train schools train school specializing instruments professionals registered strictly protects traditions passed ancestors secret documents school written materials community scholars japanese theatre roles major categories performers main protagonist leading role plays plays appears human ghost role known later companion abbreviated term refers stage hands usually people chorus usually comprising people performs role counterpart foil companion perform plays actors perform separate plays individual plays play instruments theatre transverse flute hip drum shoulder drum stick drum flute specifically called typical play involves chorus orchestra actor performance elements performance combines variety elements stylistic particular element product generations according central buddhist minimalist aspects aesthetic principles masks masks men carved blocks japanese painted natural neutral base approximately different masks based types distinctive names masks representative frequently different plays specific plays masks characters gender age social ranking wearing masks actors portray old men female divine demonic animal characters main actor wears mask plays wear mask plays represent female characters mask covers actor facial expressions use mask abandonment facial expressions altogether intent facial expressions use mask stimulate imagination audience masks actors able convey emotions controlled manner movements body language masks utilize lighting effect convey different emotions slight head facing slightly upward mask let mask capture light revealing features appear laughing smiling facing downward cause mask appear sad mad masks families institution powerful schools hold oldest valuable masks private collections rarely seen public ancient mask supposedly kept hidden treasure oldest school according current head school mask carved legendary regent prince thousand years ago historical accuracy legend prince mask contested legend ancient recorded style flower written 14th century stage traditional stage complete provides shared experience performers audience performance view audience sees actor moments enter exit central stage theatre considered symbolic treated reverence performers audience recognizable characteristic stage independent roof hangs stage indoor theatres supported columns roof stage architectural design derived worship pavilion sacred dance pavilion den roof theatre space defines stage architectural entity pillars supporting roof named principal character pillar pillar secondary character pillar flute pillar clockwise right respectively pillar associated performers actions stage entirely unfinished japanese decorative elements poet novelist writes stage theatre sets change piece curtain simple panel painting green pine tree creates impression provide banished break happen easy thing unique feature stage narrow bridge right actors enter stage means suspension bridge signifying aerial connects separate worlds level bridge nature plays ghosts spirits frequently appear contrast theatres literally path connects spaces single world completely different significance costumes actors wear silk costumes called robes hats props fan striking colors elaborate texture intricate robes truly works art right costumes particular extravagant silk progressively centuries accordance vision costumes emulated clothing characters genuinely wear formal robes street clothing peasant late sixteenth century costumes stylized certain symbolic stylistic conventions period elaborate robes given actors period developed costumes musicians chorus typically wear formal black adorned family accompanied skirt like combination waist coat exaggerated shoulders finally stage virtually black way contemporary western theatre props use props stylized commonly prop fan carried performers regardless role chorus singers musicians carry fan hand entering stage carry fan usually placed performer takes position taken leaving stage dance sequences fan typically represent hand held props sword wine flute writing brush fan represent objects course single play hand props fans usually introduced retrieved fulfill similar role stage crew contemporary theatre like western counterparts stage traditionally dress black unlike western theatre appear stage scene remain stage entire performance cases plain view audience black costume implies action stage effectively invisible set pieces boats wells bells typically carried stage beginning act needed props normally outlines suggest actual objects great bell perennial exception rules props designed conceal actor allow costume change interlude chant music theatre accompanied chorus ensemble drama commentators dubbed japanese opera singing involves limited range lengthy repetitive passages narrow dynamic range clearly melody center singing texts poetic relying heavily japanese seven rhythm common nearly forms japanese poetry economy expression abundance allusion singing parts called speaking parts music blank spaces actual sounds negative blank spaces fact considered heart music addition ensemble consists musicians known including play hip drum shoulder drum respectively chant performed character actor speak lines describe events perspective character narrator far breaking rhythm performance actually keeping feel plays especially characterized plays roughly plays created known today current repertoire performed existing schools consist approximately plays current repertoire heavily influenced taste aristocratic class period necessarily reflect popularity different ways classify plays subject plays classified broad categories present features human characters events according linear timeline play supernatural involves supernatural worlds featuring gods spirits ghosts role time depicted passing non linear fashion action switch moment moment including flashbacks mixed somewhat uncommon hybrid act second act utilizes internal external conflicts drive storylines bring emotions focuses utilizing flashbacks past deceased emotions performance style additionally plays categorized style drama piece based advancement plot narration action little dance piece characterized elaborate stage action involving stage properties multiple characters theme plays divided themes following categories classification considered practical today formal programming choices today traditionally formal play program composed selection groups god plays typically feature role deity tell story shrine praise particular god structured acts deity takes human form disguise act reveals real self second act warrior plays takes buddhist underworld protagonist appearing ghost famous pleads monk salvation drama glorious enactment scene death war costume wig plays woman plays depict female role feature refined songs dances reflecting smooth flowing movements representing female characters miscellaneous plays traditionally performed fourth place play program plays include madness plays ghost plays present plays final plays demon plays usually feature role monsters demons selected bright colors fast paced tense finale movements performed play program roughly plays category shorter plays categories addition frequently performed beginning program combining dance ritual considered oldest type play famous plays comprehensive list list plays plays individual articles listed following school influence west western artists influenced theatre practitioners japanese masters gave theater laboratory primarily studied physical aspects considers waiting parody particularly god spirit appears secondary character protagonist argues dramatic conflict evidence completely discarded theatre happens comes look closer according began reading japanese plays middle twenties read plays translated german adaptation play identified adaptation play japanese actor training began working brook production later joined brook company according learned time served french ambassador japan opera shows influence worked play having seen play states drawn taste tendency restrained theatre based spirituality praised theatre writing finally saw production physical theatre taught founded influenced plays long day journey night similarities plays expressed interest preface plays sister confirmed interests work town incorporates elements lack plot representative characters use ghosts composers english composer bell wrote music modern presentation plays including trees visited japan saw time japanese plays called wonderful drama seen influences seen heard ballet prince later semi church performance river son encountered tour japan inspired highly stylized practices completely different western counterparts focus according japanese theatre inspired design business suit visual staple live shows 20th century philosopher liner notes song album state japanese called work web wrote guardian narrative mix japanese theatre folk mythology greek drama imagination salmon cites writing centuries fine art sophisticated world known fury incorporates plays story essentially grand cycle light based mythology drawing multiple cultural traditions japanese theatre german folklore admired theatrical form known complexity presented march dance music event highlighting lifelong interest japanese music theatre event featured female performer poets wrote essay titled certain noble plays japan tried learn limited resources available england time lack complete understanding led create innovative works guided imagination wrote plays heavily influenced ghosts supernatural beings central time plays hawk dreaming bones words window aesthetic terminology describe number distinct qualities thought essential proper understanding art form flower instructions posture flower describes saying master secrets things exhaust possibilities device remains true performer seeks relationship audience similar way flowers notable like flower meant appreciated audience matter coarse upbringing comes forms individual beauty flower youth passes time true flower creating sharing perfect beauty performance profound concept valued forms art japanese culture originally mean grace representing perfect beauty invisible beauty felt seen work art term specifically relation mean profound beauty world including beauty involved sadness loss means old means quiet final stage performance development actor unnecessary action sound performance leaving true essence scene action imitated defined heart mind speaks teachings easily defined mind develop actor enter state mind charm actor performs sense imitation effectively role imitation intent actor accurately depict motions role opposed purely aesthetic reasons contrasted represent completely separate song dance heart theory song including poetry dance halves actor perform total unity heart mind existing theatres regularly performed today public theatres private theatres located major cities theatres japan presenting professional amateur productions public theatres include tokyo school permanent theatre tokyo tokyo additionally municipal theatres located japan present touring professional companies local amateur companies regions unique regional developed form schools independent traditional schools audience audience generally similar formal western theatre audience quietly watches audience members follow stage performance begins actors entering stage ends leaving stage house lights usually kept performances creating intimate feel provides shared experience performers audience end play actors file slowly important gaps actors bridge audience actors begins actor leaves unlike western theatre actors return stage having left play end character leaving stage story instance ending characters stage case character exits interval tea coffee japanese served lobby period day long affair substantial acts served special occasions performance ceremonial sake served lobby way happens rituals audience seated stage left stage corner left stage order decreasing pillar view stage actors primarily corners center located views main actors obscured ensuring generally clear view regardless seating
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