| Jiuta |
[Aoi no uye]
Lady
Aoi |
A classic work by 15th-century Japanese dramatist Zeami MotokiyoThe play, based on events in the 11th-century novel "The Tale of Genji," by Murasaki Shikibu
In this play, Lady Aoi, represented by a folded robe, lies
near death, stricken with a mysterious illness by the malevolent
spirit of the scorned, jealous Lady Rokujo. The play's most
memorable scene involves an exorcism performed by a chanting
ascetic whose incantations stay the evil spirit of Rokujo.
Rokujo repeatedly withdraws, coils and strikes until in the
end her heart softens and she is guided to salvation and Buddhahood.
|
| Jiuta |
[Kanawa] |
Narrates how a woman,
enraged by jealousy, goes to the Kibune
Shrine and petitions the gods to
turn her into a demon so that she can have revenge |
| Jiuta |
[Kosu
no to]
Outside the bamboo blind |
It is a short amatory
story set in summer: a woman has fallen in love
with a man who eased her
stomach pains with his strong arms. They are about to hang a mosquito
net
together. |
| Jiuta |
[Mitsukagami]
Water-mirror
shiny (reflective) surface of water |
|
| Jiuta |
[Nagoyaobi] |
Depicts the subtle
emotions, state of mind and thus social situation of
a Geisha, who cannot be with her lover. |
| Jiuta |
[Yashima] Yashima
(ancient battle place) |
The dance is based upon
the Noh play also titled Yashima. In it
a single dancer tries to capture the essence of the ancient battle that
took place at Yashima.
One spring day, a traveling priest visits the site of the old battle at
Yashima located next to a beautiful beach with the crystal blue sea on
one side and rising mountains on the other. It was here that the
Heike and Genji clans fought for supremacy.
The story unfolds with the priest meeting the ghost of the Genji
general, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who recounts his battles with the
enemy warriors. All through the night, he narrates of his great courage
and bravery in the battle and his finally victory over his foes, and as
the day dawns the ghost fades away.
Among Kamigata-mai, it is one of the most strenuous and active dance
performance. |
| Jiuta |
[Yuki]
snow |
Yuki is one of the most
popular jiuta dances.
It depicts the tranquil mind of a nun and her sad psyche before
becoming a nun.
The text tells the story of a Buddhist nun who has lived in a nunnery,
apart from the world, ever since she was disappointed being in love
while she was a young courtesan.
The piece beautifully depicts the serenity of the mind of the woman, as
the tolling of a temple bell in the snow reminds her of her past
sorrows.
The instrumental interlude (ai-no-te) is used here to express the quiet
tolling of a distant temple bell on a snowy evening and has become so
popular that its melancholic melody is often used in other dances as a
kind of theme to suggest a snowy scene or the call for a cold, dark
atmosphere. |
| Kamigatauta |
[Sangokuichi] |
Once there was a rich,
licentious man.
Although he had already gotten married, he fell in love with a young
and beautiful girl.
After they came to love each other, she went on a pilgrimage with her
elderly
mother, because she realized how guilty their act was.
After hearing this he went running after her while leaving his pregnant
wife
alone.
Being left to ponder why he had left her, the wife assumed it was
because of her unfortunate facial appearance, leaving her with a sense
of self regret.
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