The Art of Traditional Japanese Theater (An Overview of the Exhibit)

Glynne Walley

February 18, 2014

Me: • Glynne Walley, Assistant Professor of Japanese Literature The Exhibit • Small Preble-Murphy (from Fall 2013) • Large Preble-Murphy (from Winter 2014) • Connected to my classes on Traditional Theater, Fall 2013 and Winter 2014 • The goal

• To display art related to Japan’s 4 major theatrical traditions • To display art that’s beautiful in its own right

The Four Major Traditions • Nō (also spelled Noh)

• Medieval • Masks • Abstract – meditative

• Kyōgen • Medieval • Masks (sometimes) • Comedic

• Bunraku (also called jōruri) • Early modern • Puppets • Melodramatic

• Kabuki • Early modern • Live action • Melodramatic

• Plus: • Ancient court dances • Religious pageantry • Medieval bards

• Commonalities • All roles played by men • Elaborate costumes

Touch panel in Small Preble-Murphy contains: • Gertrude Bass Warner lantern slides related to

traditional theater • Film clips of each major tradition

Top: A medieval bard telling an epic tale of battle Right: A religious procession using masks Bottom: An ancient court dance

Hallway from Icons Gallery to Small Preble-Murphy

• All are from late 19th century • But depict much older

traditions

Small Preble-Murphy: Nō and Kyōgen • Both take place on same stage

• Barren stage – no scenery, few props • Always has pine tree painted on back wall

• Symbolizes longevity (evergreen)

• Right: Kyōgen actor • Shows pine tree • Same dance as on touch screen

• Below: Nō performance for Shogun Yoritomo • Pine tree not visible • But its presence is “felt”?

Small Preble-Murphy: Nō • Early 20th century prints by Tsukioka Kogyo • Specialized in nō prints • Some show us what we would see in theater – just actors in costume • Some show us imagined scenery (mentioned in script but not shown on stage)

Large Preble-Murphy: Nō • Large scroll painting of Tomoe, female warrior • Nō connection – nō play about Tomoe

• Scroll shows her wearing formal hat, not helmet

• Pine tree in background like nō stage • Textile mounting is old nō robe with tomoe

design

Large Preble-Murphy island: Nō and kyōgen • Nō robe • Nō mask (replica) • Netsuke with mask motifs • Old books

• Hokusai’s sketches of masks • Book of kyōgen scripts

Small Preble-Murphy: Kabuki and bunraku • Screen painting of famous places in Kyoto • Includes bunraku and kabuki theaters