What%20is%20Bunraku?

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What is Bunraku?

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Bunraku

• This is a Japanese form of puppet theater used to
  depict Japanese culture.
• It is the most developed puppetry in the world.
• Considered a serious art formnot as
  entertainment for children.

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• It is a narrative chanting and a shamisen
  instrument is used to accompany the bunraku.
• It is the most representative form of public
  theater.
• Originated in the 17th century.
• It is a form of Japanese drama.
• It is referred to as a Double Triangle (Sangyo)-
  Which means a triangle within a triangle. (See
  triangle on board)

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The Double Triangle

• One triangle is considered because there are
  three puppeteers per puppet.
• The other triangle is because in the show there
  are the puppet, the singer, and shamisen player.
• Originally there was only one puppeteer.
• In Japan the bunraku is known as ningyo-joruri
  which means puppets-storytelling

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History of Bunraku

• Japanese culture claims that a puppet troupe from
  Osaka had come to Shikoku, an island, and snow
  had trapped them there for several weeks in the
  1830s. Thus, when they could leave they left
  several puppets behind so the idea culturally
  assimilated.

• Bunraku is about 400 years old.
• It became an important part of their folk culture
  which is important considering in Japan your
  rights to teach your art are determined by your
  hierarchy standing.

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History Continued

• Bunraku flourished because the merchant class
  wanted and looked for entertainment.
• Gidaya is the most famous of all bunraku
  narrators or writers.

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The Puppets

• These puppets have no strings.
• In early days the puppeteers were hidden behind a
  curtain, but that changed.
• These puppets are large about half life size.
• The puppets are operated by three puppeteers.
• Puppet is called a gyonin.
• Eyes, eyebrows, mouths, hands, and arms can move.
• Hips are made of bamboo.

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Puppets Continued

• Arms and legs are attached by only one string.
• Shoulders are padded with dried gourd fiber
• Can roll eyes and make fingers into a fist.
• These puppets are more sophisticated than
  European puppets.

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Puppeteers

• Much skill and talent is needed to operate these
  puppets.
• Only the main puppeteer is visible throughout the
  play while the other two are covered in black
  outfits. (They must remain invisible to the
  audience.)
• The least talented (ashidzukai) controls the
  feet. If the puppet is female, then this
  puppeteer controls the skirt movements because
  female puppets dont have legs. Female puppets
  wear tradition Japanese dress known as a kimono.

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The Second and Last Puppeteer

• The second most experienced puppeteer
  (hiraridzukai) controls the left hand and helps
  the main puppeteer.
• The last and most experienced puppeteer
  (dedzukai) controls the right hand and head.

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Other Important People

• Next to puppeteers comes the tayo or joruri known
  to us as the performer. He is the storyteller
  and singer. He is also the narrator who recites
  the story in a mixture of chanting and emotional
  telling.
• They must have a strong voice and be able to get
  emotions across to the audience.
• The songs are sung using a breathing technique
  which involves inhaling from the belly not the
  chest because the length of a performance makes
  them need more breath.

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Last Part of Double Triangle

• The last part of the triangle is the shamisen
  player.
• A shamisen is an ancient Japanese guitar-like
  instrument with only three strings.
• It can be used to create both sound effects and
  meditative music.
• Originally a Japanese lute was used.

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Plays

• Many bunraku plays are historical and deal with
  the common Japanes theme of girl and ninjo.
• Another common theme deals with the external
  conflict that exists between social obligations
  and human emotions.
• One of the most famous plays Keisei Awa no Naruto
  is about a sumari, who has taken it upon himself
  to find his masters lost sword. He and his wife
  go in search of the sword so they must leave
  their infant daughter in the care of her
  grandmother for her own safety. He joins a band
  of thieves to allow himself

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Play Continued

• Access to where the sword might be. He searches
  for ten years with no luck.
• Plays were used in a formal context in religious
  ritual at shrines and temples.
• Dealt with tales of heroism and tragedy, typical
  elements of dramas.
• Also dealt with legends of the history of warfare.

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Tradition

• Bunraku is passed down from father to eldest son.
• Must go through ten year apprenticeship.
• Long ago women were not allowed to participate,
  for Japanese authorities questioned womens
  morals so they did not want womens influence on
  their plays.

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The Tradition of Today

• Now women can perform in the plays as puppeteers.
  
• The government in Japan now funds bunraku.
• The government opened the National Theater in
  Tokyo. This was important because before this,
  the puppeteers had to be traveling puppeteers
  whereas, now they have a permanent place to
  perform.
• In 1985, National Bunraku Theater opened in
  Osaka, the original home of bunraku.

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