カテゴリー別アーカイブ: About Votive Dances

About Hara-Sho-Kai (原笙会)

Hara-Sho-Kai (原笙会) is a school for female court dancers based in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Hara-Sho-Kai Official Website (Japanese only)

Hara-Sho-Kai was founded by the late Shoko Hara (原笙子), one of the well-received female court dancers with a long experience. She is known for her autobiography, “Called a Delinquent Girl” (不良少女と呼ばれて). Her autobiography was made into a live-action movie and broadcast on TV in 1984. The movie had the same title, though, it had a large deviation from the original autobiography. Shoko Hara and her family were glared at with distorted eyes and harshly criticized by people who assumed the movie was nonfiction.

Although Shoko Hara had a hardship due to the twisted story of the movie, she received a considerable amount of royalties since the movie was a great hit. She saved all the royalties related income to make new Bugaku costumes for her students’ performances. So her private life was very humble despite of her great income.

As a Bugaku choreographer, she designed three court dance for female dancers: Ryukaen (柳花苑), Tori-Wakamurasaki (桃李花若紫), and, Itsukushima-Gojoraku (厳島五常楽).

Juni-Hitoe (十二単) — Traditional Female Court Dress

“Juni-Hitoe” (十二単) is a traditional female clothing worn in formal occasions. The term “Juni-Hitoe” literally means “twelve layers,” which refers to the many layers of silk robes. It was worn by court ladies during the Heian period (794-1185). Now it is mainly worn by the female members of the imperial family in very special ceremonies.

The Juni-Hitoe consists of several layers of different colors and patterns, and the combination of these layers is said to represent the season, occasion, and the wearer’s status. The robes were also adorned with various accessories, such as hairpins, cords, and a folding fan.

Wearing the Juni-Hitoe was a complex process that required the assistance of several attendants. It was only worn by women of the court and aristocracy, and was a symbol of their status and refinement.

Shira-Byoshi (白拍子) – Female Dancers in Men’s Clothes

Shira-Byoshi (白拍子) is a type of song and dance that was popular during the Heian period. The term “Shira-Byoshi” also referred to the courtesans who performed the dance in male attire, wearing a standing eboshi (烏帽子) hat on a white Suikan (水干) overwear and dancing with a Shiro-Saya-Maki–no-Tachi (白鞘巻太刀), an ornamental sword. Hara-Sho-Kai (原笙会) developed its original Shira-Byoshi dance to the music called Ima-Yo-Etenraku (今様越天楽).

Gosechi no Mai-Dance of Maidens

Noble and Elegant Dance by Maidens attired in the formal Juni-Hitoe (十二単) kimono.

Gosechi no Mai is a traditional Japanese dance that is performed during important ceremonies and festivals throughout the year. It originated in the Heian period as a way for the imperial court to celebrate and showcase their wealth and elegance. The dance is usually performed by women dressed in elaborate and colorful kimono, and the movements are slow and graceful, accompanied by traditional Japanese music. Gosechi no Mai is performed during five annual festivals known as gosechi, which mark important dates on the Japanese calendar, such as the New Year and the changing of the seasons.

Music Instruments in BUGAKU

“Sho” (笙) is a Chinese musical instrument, a bamboo free-reed aerophone. It produces a bright and vibrant sound by blowing into a mouthpiece and pressing keys to open or close air channels. It is used in various traditional and contemporary music styles.

What is Bugaku?

Bugaku (舞楽), literally means “the dance music,” is a classical performing art with over 1,400 years history. It consists of “U-mai” (右舞), “Sa-mai” (左舞), and ancient dances originated in Japan. “U-mai“, literally means “the right dance”, is derived from China, while “Sa-mai“, “the left dance”, was introduced through the Korean Peninsula.

Bugaku is played to the accompaniment of traditional instruments such as the “Sho” (笙), “Hichiriki” (篳篥), “Ryuteki” (龍笛), and “Komabue” (狛笛). Bugaku is also widely known as Gagaku, which literally means “gracious music”. When we use the term Bugaku, we intend to say dances accompanied by music. Meanwhile, Gagaku usually includes both music with dances and music without dances.

Today, there is a music department within the Imperial Household Agency, where musicians perform for visiting dignitaries and at garden parties. Since World War II, Bugaku has also been regularly performed twice a year and made open to the general public. It is also performed at major events held in shrines and temples among the general public.