Lecture week six: myth into performance

1
Lecture week six myth into performance

• Japanese myth and theatre

2
The sun goddess

• Source
• http//www.mothergoddess.com/ama.html

3
In the cosmology of Japan

• seven generations of god emerge from an egg form
• two most important are brother sister/husband
  wife IZANAGI IZANAMI
• Izanami gave birth to the Japanese islands and
  many gods, fought with Izanagi.

4
Amaterasu Susanoo

• Amaterasu, the sun goddess was born from the eye
  of Izanagi
• Susanoo, the wind god from his nose
• Amaterasu ruled in the plain of high heaven the
  female was patient and loving, forgiving and
  tolerant
• Susanoo ruled the sea the male was boisterous,
  ribald, troublesome

5
The story of Amaterasu in the cave

• Ama no Uzume (Dread goddess of Heaven) performed
  an erotic dance to call back the sun

6
Things to note

• Relationship to nation The (kanji) characters
  for Japan Nihon/Nippon literally mean the source
  of the sun.

7
Emperor worship Amaterasu is the mythological
descendant of the Emperor and in the context of
national identity this myth has great power.

• Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress
  (PhotoImperial Household Agency)

8
The dance as a performance

• According to some accounts, the dancer O-Kuni,
  who was a Miko, or a shaman in medieval times
  belonging to a shrine performed the first Kabuki
  dance. Reputedly dressed as a man, she performed
  a similar erotic dance to Dread Female of Heaven
  on an up-turned tub in river bed in the ancient
  capital Kyoto.

9
Other myths and legendsBuddhism

• Daibutsu in Kamakura
• Traditionally the introduction of Buddhism to
  Japan is dated 552. It came from India by way of
  China and the Korea Kingdom of Paekche.

10
teachings

• The world is a place of suffering caused by human
  desires and that release from suffering or
  enlightenment could be attained by following the
  eightfold path right views, right intentions,
  right speech, right action, right livelihood,
  right effort, right mindfulness and right
  concentration.

11
Karma

• The doctrine of Karma or cause and effectacts
  in previous existences are likely to have
  enmeshed one firmly in a web of desire and
  suffering. Several incarnations, that is cycles
  of death and rebirth, are considered necessary in
  most cases to achieve enlightenment.

12
samurai

• The ruling class of Japans feudal age are the
  theme of many myths, legends and cultural
  histories.

13
Giri and ninjo

• Faith to the collective conflicting with personal
  desires (Giri and ninjo) inscribe social
  performance in Japan.

14
Giri and Ninjo in theatre. Chushingura or the
Tale of the Forty Seven Ronin.

• On 14th of March 1701 a country Baron Asano
  Nagonori attempted to assassinate a senior
  ranking Samurai (Kira Yoshinaka). He was
  unsuccessful and was ordered to commit seppuku.
  His lands were confiscated and his followers
  disbanded they became Ronin. Asanos men however
  plotted revenge, it was a matter of honour that
  they avenge the death of the leader. and in
  winter of 1703 they finally succeeded in
  assassinating Kira. Arrested and committed to
  trail they were found guilty but given the honour
  of seppuku as their acts although illegal was
  honourable.
• See http//www.ukans.edu/sma/chushin/chushin.htm