EALC 275: Masterpieces of East Asian Literature Lecture #16: Noh Drama Oct. 16, 2013• What did Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), Ezra Pound (1885-1972), William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) have in common? • They were all greatly influenced by Japanese aesthetics, especially by the noh drama, the world’s oldest extant professional theater.Chronology-Japan Jimmu 660-585 B.C. Early Yamato 300 B.C.-552 A.D. Late Yamato 552-710 A.D. Nara 710-794 A.D. Heian 794-1185 A.D. Kamakura 1185-1333 A. D. Muromachi 1333 -1568 A. D. Azuchi-Momoyama 1568 -1600 A. D. Edo 1600 -1867 A. D.Historical context of Noh • --Time of war and instability • --Warrior culture • Kamakura (1185-1333) -- The rise of Samurai -- Booming of Noh drama • Muromachi period (1333–1568) -- Present-day form of Noh drama -- Greatest Noh dramatists: Kan’ami and Zeami (1364-1443)Zen Buddhism, 1 • Zen(禪 Chan): meditation • -- derived from early Indian Buddhism • -- developed in 6th century China • -- established in Japan during Kamakura periodZen Buddhism, 2 • Zen(禪 Chan) • The Four Important Statements in Ch’an Buddhism that became popular after they were formulated by the Chinese monk Hui-neng (638-713),. These statements are found in The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch: 1- No transmission of wisdom outside direct teaching. 2- Do not establish written scripture. 3- Directly pointing to the source of the mind. 4- Seeing one’s nature, one becomes a buddha.Zen Buddhism, 3 1. Deemphasizes rational thought and mediated knowledge • -- trap of language (misleading label; no existential meaning) • -- seeks a minimum use of words 2. Values immediacy, intuition, and experience -- through thing/nature itself, cultivate a profound awareness of suchness * no ideas, just in things!Aesthetic concept Yugen (幽玄): -- “depth,” “mystery” -- elegance, mournful beauty -- ineffable -- minimalism and suggestiveness -- the most important aesthetic criteria for Noh dramaThe Minimalist Noh(能) • Noh: talent, skill, accomplishment • Five categories: 1. God plays 2. Warrior plays 3. Women plays 4. Demon plays 5. Miscellaneous plays • Kyogen(狂言): Comic interludes between Noh actsSimple StageSimple Stage • The stage, bridge, and pillars • The roof: outdoor tradition • Pine trees: --Pine tree painting: the sacred place --Real pine trees: earth, men, and heavenMinimal roles • Actors: Shite (仕手): doer --unenlightened subject Waki (脇): sideman --sees the universal truth, often depicted as Buddhist priest Tsure (連れ):companionSimple music • Vocal music • Instrumental music --Flute and drumsCostumes De- emphasize the physical presence of the actorMasks • Shite • Are masks expressionless? god warriorMovement and dance The art of walking -- slow, elaborate, walking meditation -- abstract and symbolic Dance: actor’s emotional excitation“Atsumori” -Zeami, playwright -Warrior play -Atsumori (ghost in disguise) -Kumagai (priest Rensei) -Shite vs. Waki relationship What does the flute signify? --innocence --obsession“Haku Rakuten” • Zeami • God play • Chinese poet, Bai Juyi (Bai Letian)“Haku Rakuten” • “You in China make your poems and odes out of the Scriptures of India; and we have made our ‘uta’ out of the poems and odes of China. Since then our poetry is a blend of three lands, we have named it Yamato, the great blend, and all our songs ‘Yamato Uta’.” (p.159) • --Universality of literary borrowing/recycling • --National pride“Haku Rakuten” • Sumiyoshi: the Japanese God of Poetry • “The God of Sumiyoshi whose strength is such That he will not let you subdue us, O Rakuten! So we bid you return to your home, Swiftly over the waves of the shore!” (p.160) --Anxiety of influenceNoh Video • Rokujo Lady: Her transformation into a demon (Shite) and exorcism by Buddhist priest (Waki): http://multoghost.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/the-lady-aoi/ • Atsumori: Atsumori’s dance (the climax of a noh drama), reliving the memory of his death, achieving enlightenment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yan0TpfOQMMFriday: Midterm Examination Friday (Oct.18): Midterm Exam: Students sit in ever other seat, CLOSED BOOK: no notes, textbooks, electronic devices, or other unauthorized aid allowed. Part I: Identification of Authors, Works, Key Terms– Multiple choice, true/false, short answer. Study the list of key words and previous quizzes Part II: Passage Identification: Two passages, give author, work, and couple of sentences on significance. Part III: Short Essay: 250-300 words, Thesis, Support with examples well explained, Conclusion. Prepare outline and memorize it. Come to the test with a game plan in