Noh

Nōgaku Theater
Noh performance at Itsukushima Shrine
CountryJapan
DomainsPerforming arts
Reference12
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2008 (3rd session)
ListRepresentative

Noh (, , derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent") is a major form of classical Japanese dance-drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Developed by Kan'ami and his son Zeami, it is the oldest major theater art that is still regularly performed today.[1] Although the terms Noh and nōgaku are sometimes used interchangeably, nōgaku encompasses both Noh and kyōgen. Traditionally, a full nōgaku program included several Noh plays with comedic kyōgen plays in between; an abbreviated program of two Noh plays with one kyōgen piece has become common today. Optionally, the ritual performance Okina may be presented in the very beginning of nōgaku presentation.

Noh is often based on tales from traditional literature with a supernatural being transformed into human form as a hero narrating a story. Noh integrates masks, costumes and various props in a dance-based performance, requiring highly trained actors and musicians. Emotions are primarily conveyed by stylized conventional gestures while the iconic masks represent the roles such as ghosts, women, deities, and demons. Written in late middle Japanese, the text "vividly describes the ordinary people of the twelfth to sixteenth centuries".[attribution needed][2] Having a strong emphasis on tradition rather than innovation, Noh is extremely codified and regulated by the iemoto system.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bowers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Nôgaku theatre". The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO. Retrieved 21 November 2019.