For centuries, Nogaku or Noh has been an important part of traditional Japanese culture, a form of classic theater, that still has many admirers. The history of Noh begins in the Muromachi period (1392 - 1573), and this particular art form has it's origins in the ritual music which was played in themples and shrines. Over the next years and especially in the Edo period, Noh became a favourite past time of the noble families and enjoyed their protection and apreciation. After the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, began a crisis for Noh, as the employement offers were few to non-existent. It seemed that it was the end of the Noh, with it's music,marsks, costumes and plays, yet the enthusiasts managed to save this parituclar art and helped it to survive, until it once again came back in fashion.
This fascinating history is examined in a new exhibition opened at the Kyoto National Museum in the show called "The Art of Noh Theater", bringing together a large and careful ensemble of exquisite works of Noh art, collected by an enthusiat, deeply fascinated by this kind of theatre. Over many decades this collector, passionate about Noh theatre, learned to perform and also amassed an impressive collection of masks, costumes, documents, art, memorabilia, the show being the first time that this collection is ever presented fully.
2007-10-22
