Banraku - Banraku

This name refers to the Yamabushi Kagura (mountain priest kagura) found in Akita and Yamagata prefectures along the Japan Sea coast. It is also called Shishimai (lion dance), but in the Edo period it was also called Asobi (dance). Bangaku is characterized by wild and fast-paced warrior dances based on the Soga Monogatari and Heike Monogatari, and it is said that the name comes from the fact that these warrior dances are also commonly called Banrakumai. As Bangaku is a performing art associated with Shugendo faith, it is concentrated in the villages at the foot of the mountains surrounding Mount Chokai, Mount Taihei, Mount Kamuro, and other mountains. The composition of the various pieces can be classified into ceremonial dances, Kamimai (divine dances), Banrakumai (baby dances), women's dances, and Doukemai (clown dances), with the exception of Shishimai (lion dances). The stage is a shrine, an inn, a community center, etc., and it is performed in a small space with only a curtain stretched at the back of the front. There are three types of music: drums, flutes, and copper clappers. Sometimes, wooden clappers are added. The style of the music is closer to Noh than Kagura, and some pieces are said to retain the old style of Noh before it was perfected.

[Shigeru Takayama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

山伏神楽(やまぶしかぐら)のうち、日本海側の秋田・山形県に分布するものをこの名でよぶ。単に獅子舞(ししまい)ともいうが、江戸時代には舞曲(あそび)とも称していた。番楽は『曽我(そが)物語』や『平家物語』に取材した荒々しくテンポの速い武士舞を特色とし、これら武士舞を一般に番楽舞ともいうところに名称の由来があるといわれる。番楽は修験道(しゅげんどう)信仰に伴う芸能であるだけに、鳥海(ちょうかい)山、太平(たいへい)山、神室(かむろ)山などを取り巻く山麓(さんろく)の村々に集中した分布がみられる。諸曲の構成は獅子舞を別格とし、式舞、神舞(かみまい)、番楽舞、女舞、道化(どうけ)舞に分類できる。神社、宿、公民館などを舞台とし、正面奥に幕を張っただけの狭い空間で演じる。囃子(はやし)は太鼓、笛、銅拍子(どうびょうし)の3種。これに拍子木(ひょうしぎ)の加わる所もある。曲趣は神楽というよりはむしろ能に近く、曲によっては大成前の能の古態をとどめているものがあるといわれる。

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