Ryo-oh

The name of a Gagaku piece. It is also called "Ranryo-o" or "Raryo-o". It is one of the Tang music left dances, and belongs to the Linyu Hachigaku. It was originally in the Sada style, but is now in the Ichikotsu style. It is a running dance performed by a single dancer. The Kamakura period Gagaku book "Kyokumonsho" says that it is a celebration of the great victory of the handsome soldier Changyasu of the Northern Qi Dynasty of China, or that when the prince of Shina lamented the difficult battle with the neighboring country in front of his father's tomb, the setting sun rose, signifying a great victory. From this comes the name "Botunichikan Goraku" (Music of the Setting Sun Returning to the Afternoon). It consists of six pieces: "Koranjo," "Ryoou Ranjo," "Saezuri," "Sadacho no Netori," "Tokyoku," and "Irute." In "Ryoou Ranjo," the dancer appears to the sound of a unique percussion rhythm and the pursuit of a dragon flute, while in "Saezuri," the dancer performs a pantomime-like dance without accompaniment. The dancer wears a different costume, a hairy ryoutou (pants) and a golden mask, and holds a drumstick in his right hand. It is a masterpiece of brave, spirited solo dancing. The pair dance is "Nasori."

[Yoko Hashimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

雅楽の曲名。『蘭(らん)陵王』『羅(ら)陵王』ともいう。唐楽左舞(さまい)の一つで林邑八楽(りんゆうはちがく)に属す。もと沙陀(さだ)調で現在壱越(いちこつ)調。舞人一人の走舞(はしりまい)。鎌倉時代の雅楽書『教訓抄』には、中国北斉(ほくせい)の美顔の兵士長恭が大勝利を収めたのを祝したとも、脂那(しな)の王子が父王の陵前で隣国との苦戦を嘆くと、沈みかけた夕日が昇り大勝利を得たのを表すともいうとある。ここから「没日還午楽(ぼつにちかんごらく)」の名もある。「小乱声(こらんじょう)」「陵王乱序」「囀(さえずり)」「沙陀調音取(さだちょうのねとり)」「当曲」「入手(いるて)」の六曲からなる。「陵王乱序」では独特の打楽器のリズムと竜笛の追吹(おいぶき)によって舞人が登場し、「囀」では無伴奏でパントマイムのような振(ふり)をする。別様装束で毛べりの裲襠(りょうとう)に金色の面をつけ右手に桴(ばち)を持つ。勇壮闊達(かったつ)な一人舞の傑作。番舞(つがいまい)は『納曽利(なそり)』。

［橋本曜子］

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