Ushidek - Ushidek

This is a ritual dance performed by women only after festivals such as Sinugu and Unjami in rural areas of the Okinawa Islands. Sinugu and Unjami are pre-celebratory ceremonies held in early summer to protect crops from natural disasters. First, several older women carrying small drums called Netori lead the way, followed by women from the village dressed in formal attire, who make a counterclockwise circle around an open space called Ashibi-naa. The songs are performed through dialogue between the Netori and the dancers, and include songs praising the king and the village, as well as outdoor play songs about the friendship between men and women. The choreography is made up of old hand dances such as Koneri-te, Osute, and Himi-te, which are the basis of Ryukyu dance, as well as gorgeous dances with four bamboo poles and fans. The clothing varies depending on the age group - Ototori, women, and girls - but the girls' clothing is the most traditional, with a long scarf and a headband hanging down the back, a vest, and a skirt.

In addition, the Sunsami of Ganeko, Ginowan city on the main island of Okinawa, the Throwing Dance of Mastrya of Ueno village on Miyako island, and the Angama of the Setsu festival of Sona on Iriomote island are also dances of the same genre.

[Eijiro Yoshibo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

沖縄諸島の農村でシヌグ、ウンジャミなどの祭りののちに女性のみで行う祭祀(さいし)舞踊。シヌグ、ウンジャミは農作物を自然の災害から守るために初夏に行う予祝儀礼である。まず音取(ねとり)とよばれる小鼓(こつづみ)を持った年長者の女性数人を先頭に、正装した村の女性たちが続き、遊(あし)び庭(なー)とよばれる広場を左回りに輪を描く。歌は音取と踊り手の掛け合いで進められ、内容は国王や村をたたえたのち、男女の交遊を歌った野遊(もうあそ)び歌などである。振りは琉球(りゅうきゅう)舞踊の基をなすこねり手、押す手、拝み手などの古い手踊りや、四つ竹、扇などを持った華やかな踊りで構成されている。服装は音取、婦人、少女と年齢によって違うが、古式ゆかしいのは少女の服装で、長い長巾(さーじ)で鉢巻をして後ろに垂らし、胴衣(どじん)、下裳(かかん)を着る。

　なお、沖縄本島宜野湾(ぎのわん)市我如古(がにく)のスンサーミー、宮古島上野(うえの)村のマストリャの投げ踊り、西表(いりおもて)島租納(そな)の節(せつ)のアンガマも同系統の踊りであろう。

［宜保栄治郎］

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