Ennen

It is a Noh art performing in temples and shrines that began in the middle of the Heian period and became popular during the Kamakura period. It was performed after the Daihokai- big Buddha’s festival of large temples such as Kofukuji and Enryakuji. Initially, it was a sideshow of banquets by monks and children, and it is said that it was held for nobleman’s reception and celebration. As soon as it looks like a lot of people gather to mercenary in, was to specialization is also the side that performer is called ” travel monk,”, “crazy monk”. The contents of the Ennen are diverse, and many of them have influenced Noh and Kyogen. The Noh “Ataka”, Benkei Shite had danced Ennen style in small messenger book “ Ennen yo Mai “. It declined at the end of the Muromachi period, and is now only transmitted to several places such as Motsuji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, and Rinnoji Temple in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. It is called “Ennen Mai”.