Noh terminology dictionary

能本- Noh book

Nohhon

The old name for Noh performance script. Both Noh book and Utaihon – Noh songbook have the same point of writing verses, but “Utaihon” is a rehearsal for learning Utai and Noh book which such as can also be seen the note of the effect in time to, can be regarded as a script for performance. Zeami also called it the “Book of Noh” and the “Book of Utai”. The oldest of the existing Noh book is Muromachi period (early 15th century, Oei era year) of Zeami autograph book in , Kanze family has four song such as “Namba”, “Furu”, “Matsuura” , “Akoyamatsu” is handed down, the Konparu family has five songs, “Morihisa,” “Tadotsuzaemon,” “Eguchi,” “Unrinin,” and “Kashiwazaki,” have been handed down.

天下一 The best of world

Tenkaichi

The title granted to masters of various craft techniques during the Azuchi-Momoyama period to the early Edo period. Noh mask creator (Men-uchi) are also allowed to strokes. Hideyoshi Toyotomi admits to two people of ZeKan and Sumibo (Mamoru Wakasa). Edo era, Kawachi, Yamato, Tomo, Horashiro, Omi et al were named Tenkaichi. A lot of men-uchi works- “on the back-Noh mask ” has Tenkaichi of branding iron . However, self-proclaimed in the world, Tenkaichi and rampant turbulent since it has been for, the Edo Shogunate in 1682 years, prohibited its use, men-uchi also Tenkaichi no longer be able to called.

わらんべ草

Waranbegusa

A message of Kyogen in the early Edo period. It was written by Toraaki Yaemon (1597 (Keicho 2) to 1662 (Kanbun 2)), the 13th generation of the Kyogen Okura school , and was established in 1660 (Manji 3). “Kyogen Kogosho” was written by adding annotations to “Kyogen” written based on the teachings of his late father, Torasei, and ” Waranbe grass ” was created by modifying this. It is the oldest Kyogen message , which is few in number compared to Noh, and strongly insists on its own legitimacy. Noh mask there is, knowledge of etiquette and acting on the Kyogen, Noh music general of the story, genealogy, a wide range of content such as autobiography is written. 

初心 – Beginner

Shoshin

Zeami of wrote the Noh books ” flower  in the mirror “the word “Don’t forget your first intention” are known. In general, it is a fact of pure feelings of the time we started things. In ” flower in the mirror” , after the word ” Don’t forget your first intention ” is the word “don’t forget your old age of the first intention “, that mean, leading to the old from the young people should being aware of the immaturity of each time, it has the meaning of aiming for a higher level. For the performer, the word has become a keyword that always makes them aware of the improvement of Noh art throughout their lives.

離見の見- Look at the distance

Riken no Ken

This is a word that Zeami written in Noh book ” Hana kagami- flower mirror”. It is the consciousness that a performer has an objective perspective away from his or her body and sees his or her performance from all directions. On the other hand, a narrow, self-centered view is called “gaken” which strictly warns against complacency. Even now, the performers are strongly aware that it applies to all performances.

六義

Rikugi

One of the messages handed down by Zeami to his son-in-law, Konparu Zenchiku. It was reported in March 1428 during the Muromachi period when Zeami was 66 years old and Zenchiku was 24 years old. The Contents, Ki Tsurayuki preached the six types of Waka poesms- Japan poems and “Rokugi” which he wrote in the kana preface of Kokinshu- ancient and mordent books by applying the art of Noh. Collection of Hozanji temple in Ikoma, Nara. A cultural property designated by Nara Prefecture. Apart from this, it may also refer to the script of Kyogen.

下間少進

Shimotsuma Shoushin

From 1551 (Tenbun 20) to 1616 (Genwa 2). An amateur Noh actor who was a Buddhist priest at Honganji Temple from the end of the Warring States period to the beginning of the Edo period. Also known as Nakataka, Nakayuki, Yoriyuki, and Nakayasu, the legal name is sexuality and the stage name of Noh is Shou. In the pedigree Shimotsuma family who served in generations of Honganji, get prestige, such as Nobunaga Oda pretige from that excelled in diplomacy all excited, by the time the 31-year-old his monk position was promoted to the best position of Hoin. Relations with Noh was that he saved the seriously injured Konparu Honkan and he studied under Konparu and received the secrets of the Konparu style one after another and he worked on the stage more than the lord of each role, and wrote a message and Noh forms. According to his performance record “Noh Book”, he has performed nearly 1200 Noh plays in about 30 years until his death at the age of 66. He had taught Noh to various daimyo including Hidetsugu Toyotomi, and performed Noh in palace of the emperor and more though he was an amateur to become Noh actor who represented the times.

金春禅竹

Konparu Zenichi

From 1405 (Oei 1212) to 1470 (Bunmei 2)? .. he is a Noh actors and creators in the middle of the Muromachi period. The name is Ujinobu. Zenchiku is the legal name. He was the son-in-law of Zeami, a great Noh master, and was active in a wide range of areas, mainly in Nara, as a great performer of the Konparu style. He received numerous teach receiving guidance from Zeami, and himself wrote a lot of Noh book such as “Noh with Depending on the five sounds  ,” “Kabu- dance and song books”, “six-wheeled performer record”, “Akirayado Collection” . He is also highly regarded as a Noh author, and there are many elegant but quiet plays such as “Basho,” “Teika,” “You Kihi,” “Tamakuzu,” and “Koshio.” It is also reported that he provided various assistance to Zeami who was swept away by Sado in his later years, , and it is remembered that he was a deeply emotional person.

一子相伝

Isshi Souden

It is a secret or mystery that is said to be passed on to one’s own child. Each role and each style have its own songs, performance, and matters that are treated secretly as Isshi Souden . However, Noh art is the accumulation of various ingenuity, and even if it is considered simple, it is often transmitted by word of mouth from parent to child . In the world of Noh and Kyogen, it is taught that it is necessary to identify conditions if you want to be a person who is old enough to pass and tell Noh skill with a child. Zeami also remained serious word as ” Fushi kaden”, “Besshi kouden”, Domo and awe Nari “to stand up child, a person of incompetence is It leaves behind the harsh words, “we don’t know what to do. we don’t have a house, we don’t have a house…

風姿花伝

Fuushi kaden

It is a Noh book that was written by Zeami. Actually, Zeami had a lot of success in Noh but the book also added the idea of Noh book which the father Kan’ami wrote.  In general, it is known as ” Hana densho “. It consists of 7 editions, the famous ” Hisu sureba, Hana – secret of skill” is also written. It was established in the Oei era (1394-1428) in the early Muromachi period, and was kept secret for a long time. It is discovered, reprinted and published by a history and geographer and doctor of litterature Togo Yoshida (1864- 1918) in Meji 42(1909), then Kan’ami and Zeami have come to be evaluated by the world. Troupe secrets have been written widely for the prosperity, Noh not only to the relation people, have been read widely in such as educators and managers.