Noh

This volume provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of the rich traditions of noh, classical Japanese dance-drama.

Drawing from up-to-date, specialized scholarship in English and in Japanese, it takes an accessible approach useful for a wide range of readers, including students and researchers of Japanese culture and performing arts, as well as theatre practitioners.

The introduction provides an overview of the art, describing noh from the point of view of both the audience and the practitioner. Chapter One (History) traces the history of noh from its origins through stages of development and formalization to the present day. Chapter Two (Plays) provides an overview of the different types of plays in the repertoire, discussing their dramaturgical structures, themes, and sources. Chapter Three (Performance) delves into the staging conventions of noh, analyzing the noh stage and introducing various aspects of movement, music, and chant, as well as costumes, masks, and stage properties. A brief conclusion raises questions about the current situation of noh and explores future trajectories.

Since its emergence in the 14th century, noh has been appreciated by a wide range of audiences, from the intellectual elites to the warrior class, from the Buddhist clergy to commoners. Throughout its long history, noh has influenced other traditional performing arts and, since the early 20th century, it has also been a source of inspiration for theatre practitioners outside of Japan.