Fine Japanese Calligraphy

The Art of Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase

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1. EARLIEST PERIOD OF THE JAPANESE DRAMA

Photograph of a carved mask turned a little toward the viewer's left: a rounded head with no hair showing and wrinkles across the forehead, small dark eyes, a very long nose that droops toward the lower left, a wide mouth turned up at the corners, and a large ear with a long lobe at the right. The surface is dark and worn.
Mask used in Gigaku

The origin of the Japanese drama is said to have been the sacred dance which was performed before the heavenly cave, in which the great Ancestral Goddess had hid Herself, long ago, in the mythological age of the gods. In this respect, finding its origin in the ceremonies performed before the gods, Japanese drama may be said to resemble the Greek drama.

Gigaku. Later on, during the reign of the Empress Suiko, about 612 A. D., a naturalized citizen named Mimashi introduced a musical dance from South

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Photograph of objects arranged on a mat floor in front of a dark drape: a low table at the center holds carved masks with long strands hanging from them, behind which hang long patterned cloths and a bordered robe. At the right a large round drum in a frame stands with a tassel hanging below it and smaller round drums beside it, and across the front lie long wooden stringed instruments with raised bridges, one overlapping the other.
Masks, costumes and musical instruments used in Bugaku

China. This was greatly encouraged by Prince Shōtoku, the Prince Regent of that time, a man of profound wisdom and deep faith. It was through him that this dance came to be conducted as part of the religious ceremonies of Buddhism. This form was called Gigaku. The masks used in this dance were artistically well advanced, and may still be seen, preserved in the Shōsōin* at Nara. It would be an interesting study to compare these masks with those of early Greece.

Bugaku. This form appeared a little later than the Gigaku, though still in the period of Prince Shōtoku. Bugaku superseded the Gigaku, and achieved its highest development in the Heian Period, about 850 A. D. Of course, during these long years there

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Painting, seen from above, of a raised square platform with a railing around it and steps at the lower right, where four people in long robes and caps move about, some holding long thin poles or blades. A pole topped with a round disk with rays stands at the left corner, large round drums with decorated frames stand at the lower left and upper right, and a tall lantern stands at the upper left. Rows of seated men in robes and caps sit on raised floors at the upper left and upper right, and pine trees fill the left and lower center.
Old picture representing Bugaku

were various improvements and new creations undertaken, similar to these original dramatic forms. This Bugaku had two forms, the left and the right. The left form reflected the traditions of the Chinese and Indian dance; the right reflected the traditions of Korea.

In general these may be described as being scenes from ancient tales. They may be termed the silent drama. In some cases masks were used, in others not. There were regular locations for the stage, set in the open air. The drama experienced varying fortunes during these years, but holds a unique position in the world drama as having survived from that early day. Its character is preserved today in the performance given by the Music Department of the Imperial Household.

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Sangaku. This form, like the two mentioned above, arose from the popular art introduced from China, and for the most part it consisted of physical feats and humorous acts.

* This famous storehouse was built in the eighth year of Tempyō Shōhō (756 A. D.) for the purpose of holding the belongings of the Emperor Shōmu, and presented to the Nara Daibutsu as an offering for the repose of the Emperor’s soul. Later, it was handed over to the Imperial Household, and it is now managed by the Department of the Imperial Household. The building has been preserved unchanged until this day. Every autumn the special airing of these precious relics is conducted, at which only those foreigners specially qualified are allowed to attend.