🇯🇵Intro to Premodern Japanese Literature Unit 12 – Early Modern Japanese Theater: Bunraku & Kabuki

Historical Context

• Bunraku and Kabuki emerged during the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan, a time of relative peace and stability under the Tokugawa shogunate
• The Edo period saw a flourishing of arts and culture, particularly in the urban centers of Osaka and Edo (modern-day Tokyo)
• The rise of the merchant class (chōnin) during this period led to an increased demand for entertainment and the development of new art forms
• Bunraku and Kabuki catered to the tastes and sensibilities of the urban commoners, reflecting their values, aspirations, and concerns
• The strict social hierarchy and moral codes of the Edo period influenced the themes and characters portrayed in Bunraku and Kabuki plays
  • The plays often featured conflicts between duty (giri) and human emotions (ninjō)
  • Characters from the lower classes (merchants, craftsmen, and prostitutes) were prominently featured

Origins and Development

• Bunraku, also known as ningyō jōruri, originated from the fusion of puppetry, shamisen music, and jōruri (narrative chanting) in the 17th century
  • The earliest form of Bunraku was developed by Uemura Bunrakuken, a puppeteer from Osaka, in the late 17th century
  • Bunraku reached its artistic peak in the 18th century with the works of playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon and the refinement of puppetry techniques
• Kabuki emerged in the early 17th century, initially as a form of dance and music performed by women in Kyoto
  • Kabuki was later banned due to its association with prostitution and replaced by all-male troupes
  • Kabuki evolved into a highly stylized form of theater, incorporating dance, music, and elaborate costumes and makeup
• Both Bunraku and Kabuki were influenced by earlier forms of Japanese theater, such as Noh and Kyōgen, as well as popular literature and oral storytelling traditions

Key Characteristics

• Bunraku features large, highly articulated puppets (ningyō) manipulated by three puppeteers dressed in black
  • The main puppeteer (omozukai) controls the head and right arm, while the left puppeteer (hidarizukai) controls the left arm, and the foot puppeteer (ashizukai) controls the feet
  • The puppeteers work in unison to create lifelike movements and expressions
• Bunraku performances are accompanied by a narrator (tayū) who chants the script and a shamisen player who provides musical accompaniment
• Kabuki is known for its elaborate makeup (kumadori), exaggerated acting styles (mie), and stylized movements (kata)
  • Male actors (onnagata) specialize in playing female roles
  • Kabuki stages feature a hanamichi, a walkway extending into the audience, used for dramatic entrances and exits
• Both Bunraku and Kabuki utilize a revolving stage (mawari butai) to quickly change scenes and a trapdoor (seri) for sudden appearances and disappearances

Notable Plays and Playwrights

• Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1725) is considered the greatest playwright of Bunraku and the "Shakespeare of Japan"
  • His most famous works include "The Love Suicides at Sonezaki" (Sonezaki Shinjū) and "The Battles of Coxinga" (Kokusen'ya Kassen)
  • Chikamatsu's plays often dealt with themes of love, duty, and the conflict between personal desires and societal expectations
• Takeda Izumo II (1691-1756), Namiki Sōsuke (1695-1751), and Miyoshi Shōraku (1696-1772) collaborated on the famous Kabuki play "Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy" (Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami)
• Tsuruya Nanboku IV (1755-1829) was a prominent Kabuki playwright known for his ghost plays (kaidanmono) and domestic dramas (sewamono)
  • His most famous work is "The Ghost Story of Yotsuya" (Yotsuya Kaidan)

Performance Techniques

• In Bunraku, the puppeteers work in full view of the audience, requiring precise coordination and skill to create the illusion of lifelike movement
  • The main puppeteer uses his or her own facial expressions to convey the puppet's emotions
  • The shamisen player uses various techniques (such as sawari, a buzzing sound created by pressing the strings against the neck) to enhance the emotional impact of the performance
• Kabuki actors employ a range of vocal techniques (kōwairo) to express different emotions and characters
  • These include aragoto (rough style) for masculine roles and wagoto (soft style) for romantic leads
  • Kabuki dance (shosagoto) is an integral part of the performance, often used to express a character's inner thoughts and feelings
• Both Bunraku and Kabuki use stylized gestures (kata) and poses (mie) to convey specific emotions and situations
  • For example, the "cross-eyed" pose (nirami) is used to express anger or intense emotion

Themes and Symbolism

• Bunraku and Kabuki plays often explore themes of love, duty, loyalty, and the conflict between personal desires and societal expectations
  • The concept of giri (duty or obligation) versus ninjō (human feelings) is a common theme, often leading to tragic consequences for the characters
  • The plays also deal with issues of social class, particularly the struggles and aspirations of the lower classes (merchants, craftsmen, and prostitutes)
• Symbolism is used extensively in both Bunraku and Kabuki to convey deeper meanings and emotions
  • Colors have specific associations (e.g., red for passion or heroism, white for purity or death)
  • Certain props and costumes are used to represent specific characters or situations (e.g., a red lion headdress for a brave warrior, a bamboo hat for a traveler)
• Nature imagery (such as cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, and the moon) is often used to evoke specific emotions or to symbolize the transience of life

Cultural Impact

• Bunraku and Kabuki played a significant role in shaping popular culture and entertainment during the Edo period
  • The plays were widely accessible to the urban commoners and provided a means of escape from the rigid social hierarchy and moral codes of the time
  • The characters and themes of the plays resonated with the experiences and aspirations of the audience
• Bunraku and Kabuki influenced other art forms, such as woodblock prints (ukiyo-e), which often depicted scenes and actors from popular plays
• The plays also served as a form of social commentary, sometimes critiquing the ruling class or societal norms in subtle ways
  • However, the Tokugawa shogunate censored plays that were deemed too critical or subversive
• Bunraku and Kabuki have continued to be an important part of Japanese cultural heritage, with many classic plays still being performed today
  • The art forms have also gained international recognition and have influenced theater practices around the world

Comparison and Contrast

• While both Bunraku and Kabuki are forms of traditional Japanese theater that emerged during the Edo period, they have distinct differences in their performance styles and techniques
• Bunraku relies on puppets to convey the story, while Kabuki uses live actors
  • This difference affects the way in which emotions and actions are conveyed to the audience
  • Bunraku puppets can perform certain actions that would be impossible for live actors, such as flying or detaching body parts
• In Bunraku, the narrator (tayū) is a central figure who chants the script and provides all the voices for the characters, while in Kabuki, the actors themselves deliver the lines
• Kabuki is known for its elaborate costumes and makeup, particularly the kumadori makeup used for heroic or villainous characters, while Bunraku puppets have more subdued facial features
• Both art forms deal with similar themes and often adapt the same stories, but the manner in which these stories are presented differs due to the unique performance techniques of each
  • For example, a Kabuki play may focus more on the individual emotions and actions of the characters, while a Bunraku play may emphasize the narrative and overall story arc
• Despite their differences, Bunraku and Kabuki both played significant roles in shaping popular culture and entertainment during the Edo period and continue to be important aspects of Japanese cultural heritage today