Noh Terminology

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S (Index List)

Sagarihanomai (下リ端之舞)

One type of dance in Noh. Sagarihanomai is danced by the atozure/tennyo in Kuzu. Sagarihanomai is t...

Sagimidare (鷺乱)

One type of dance in Noh. Sagi, or “heron” is danced by a heron in front of the emperor on the orde...

San-hisen (三卑賤)

Among the Noh plays in which the shite plays a hunter or fisherman, the three pieces “Akogi”, “Ukai”...

San-kijo (三鬼女)

This refers to the three Noh plays “Aoinoue”, “Kurozuka (Adachigahara)” and “Dōjōji”, in which nochi...

San-shura (三修羅)

“Shura-mono” (second group Noh) portray warriors who live in battle and then fall into Ashura-dō (t...

Sanbaso (三番叟)

See "Sanbasō"...

Sanbasō (三番叟)

The dance performed by the kyōgenkata after the dance of the words of happiness of the Okina, the S...

Sanben gaeshi (三遍返シ)

A non-standard way of chanting shidai, in which the shidai part is repeated three times. Normal shid...

Sanbunin (三婦人)

Among the kazura mono of Noh plays in which a graceful and refined woman plays the shite, sanbunin r...

Sandan-no-mai (三段之舞)

A type of dance in Noh and kyōgen. The shitetsure or kokata dance the naka-no-mai, officially a five...

Sanju-dana (三重棚)

See "Sanjū-dana"...

Sanjū-dana (三重棚)

A piece of scenery used as a prayer shelf. It is used only in the Noh play “Kanawa”. At the four co...

Sanrojo (三老女)

See "Sanrōjo"...

Sanrōjo (三老女)

Among the many types of Noh plays, plays depicting old women are considered particularly important. ...

Sanyaku (三役)

A collective name for the wakikata, kyōgenkata and hayashikata as opposed to the shitekata. There ar...

Sao (竿)

It is a prop used in Noh and Kyōgen. The material used is bamboo, and the beautiful parts of the app...

Sarugaku-dangi (申楽談儀)

An esoteric book of Noh. With the formal title “Zeshi rokuju igo Sarugaku dangi”, it was written by ...

Sarugaku (猿楽)

A collective name for Noh and kyōgen used until the start of the Meiji era. Sarugaku derives from sa...

Sashi (サシ)

A style of Noh and Kyōgen acting. It is frequently used in the form of a fan or hand pointing forwar...

Sashikomi (サシコミ)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: the actor steps forward a few feet while making a “sashi” ...

Sashinuki (指貫)

A type of kuribakama worn by characters of the highest status, the sashinuki is often given a sack-l...

Sashiwake (サシ分ケ)

A style of Noh. The movement differs slightly depending on the school. The performer turns once to t...

Sayu (左右)

See "Sayū"...

Sayū (左右)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The fan is taken in the right hand, the direction changed to the...

Seme (責メ)

In kyōgen, a movement where the enmaō or devil banishes a dead person to hell. It is played with th...

Senyomen (専用面)

See "Senyōmen"...

Senyōmen (専用面)

A “specialized mask,” or mask worn by a specific character. Noh masks include generalized masks such...

Senzainomai (千歳ノ舞)

In Okina (Shiki Sanban), a play that prays for peace and security of the nation, this is the dance o...

Setsugekka (雪月花)

The three characters refer to the snow of the winter, moon of the fall and flowers of the spring (...

Shagiri dome (シャギリ留)

A style of music in Kyōgen. At the finale, the leading actor jumps from side to side and to his fron...

Shiboriage (絞上げ)

One way of wearing a costume. Sleeves such as suō or hitatare are tucked up, and the kimono is close...

Shibyoshi (四拍子)

See "Shibyōshi"...

Shichō (紫調)

Hemp tension strings between the heads of tabors and drums are called “shirabe-o”, or more simply “...

Shidai (次第)

One of the hayashigoto of Noh (a part of the play where the hayashi plays the main role). While shid...

Shijimagoto (無言事)

One type of Noh production, literally “no-word things.” Typically, the parts accompanying the vocals...

Shikake (シカケ)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: the actor steps forward a few feet while making a “sashi” ...

Shikaridome (叱リ留)

A type of kyōgen performance that ends with the master scolding his servant, giving it its meaning “...

Shiki-sanba (式三番)

See "Shiki-sanban"...

Shiki-sanban (式三番)

A kind of divine service classified in Noh but not a genuine Noh play. It is usually called “okina”....

Shikigaku (式楽)

A style of performing arts featured in ceremonies of aristocrats and warrior families. Shikigaku als...

Shikinō (式能)

A Noh performance held as an official ceremony. Considered the most prestigious Noh performance duri...

Shikko (膝行)

See "Shikkō"...

Shikkō (膝行)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The kneecaps are place on the floor and moved forward and backwa...

Shimai-bakama (仕舞袴)

Actors who perform Mai-bayashi (digest performances with music) or solo dances, as well as assistant...

Shimai-ōgi (仕舞扇)

From actors, musicians and assistants to reciters, every Noh performer holds a fan. Actors in costum...

Shimai (仕舞)

A type of performance accentuating the movement of the shite danced in the crest-adorned kimono know...

Shimogakari Hōshō-ryū (下掛宝生流)

A Noh school of waki actors. The Shimogakari style was founded by Konparu Gonshichi Yūgen (d. 1692),...

Shimogakari (下掛り)

Among the five shitekata schools, the Kanze and Hōshō schools, which share the same artistic roots, ...

Shimotsuma Shoshin (下間少進)

See "Shimotsuma Shōshin"...

Shimotsuma Shōshin (下間少進)

Shimotsuma Shōshin lived from 1551 to 1616. He was a monk at Honganji and amateur Noh performer from...

Shinka (神歌)

See "kamiuta" ...

Shinsaku (新作)

Noh and kyōgen plays written after the Meiji era are known as shinsaku, or “new works” (shinsaku-noh...

Shinsaku (神作)

Legendary mask makers of great age. Also, old masks created by such legendary makers. In "Kamenfu" (...

Shiori (シオリ)

A movement indicating crying – the hand with extended fingers is held slightly in front of the face,...

Shirabe (調べ)

Tuning of musical instruments done in the room behind the entrance curtain. Usually known as "oshira...

Shirabyoshi (白拍子)

See "Shirabyōshi" ...

Shirabyōshi (白拍子)

A type of chanting and dance popular from the end of the Heian era through the Kamakura era, or, the...

Shirasu (白州／白洲)

Shirasu is the area covered with white pebbles between the Noh stage and the auditorium. Until the E...

Shiro-aya (白綾)

Type of Noh costume. A white kosode made of twill fabric with patterns such as koaoi (mallow) and hi...

Shiro-neri (白練)

Type of Noh costume. A kosode (a type of kimono) made of a dignified fabric (shiro-neri) using refin...

Shirogashira (白頭)

One type of kazura, or wig, worn by the performers. Traditionally made of yak hair. The bangs are wo...

Shirotare (白垂)

One type of wig worn by the performers, the shirotare is a tare, or type of wig, made of white hair...

Shishi (獅子)

One type of dance in Noh. In the latter part of Noh’s Ishibashi, it is danced to portray a crazed s...

Shitagake (下掛け)

A flat silk string used to attach a wig for a female role, shitagake is used to keep the wig from co...

Shitai (下居)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: to sit with one knee drawn up and the instep of the opposi...

Shitaniiru (下ニ居ル)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The knee of one leg is placed on the floor, and the top of the ...

Shite (シテ)

The lead role in Noh and kyōgen. Written in kanji as either “doing-hand” or “useful-hand,” the shite...

Shitome (シトメ)

It is a style of Noh and Kyōgen acting. It is a form of dancing that is used to end a dance performa...

Shiwaihito (しわい人)

A stingy person that never wants to pays. Nanigashi, who appears in Bonsan, is asked by an acquainta...

Shizuka-eboshi (静烏帽子)

A kind of headgear. Shizuka-eboshi refers to eboshi (caps) worn by shirabyōshi (woman dancers), espe...

Shodo (初同)

See "Shodō"...

Shodō (初同)

Within a Noh play, the vocals sung by the jiutai at the very beginning to match the rhythm. However,...

Shoga (唱歌)

See "Shōga"...

Shogi (床几)

See "Shōgi"...

Shojomidare (猩々乱)

See "Shojōmidare" ...

Shojōmidare (猩々乱)

One type of dance in Noh. Noh’s shojōmidare (or midare) is danced by a shite or shojō. The typical ...

Shoshin (初心)

Shoshin is a popular word and idea from one of Zeami’s treatises on Noh, Kakyo, in which he tells re...

Shozoku (装束)

See "Shōzoku" ...

Shugen (祝言)

See "shūgen"...

Shukkin-ryō (出勤料)

The fee for performing Noh and Kyōgen. In the Noh world, a performer’s appearance on stage is calle...

Shura Mono (修羅物)

In the official five-play style of performance of the Edo era, shin nan nyo kyō ki (deity, man, woma...

Shushi-hashiri (呪師走り)

A type of performing arts frequently staged after Buddhist services at major temples in the Heian an...

Shushin-mono (執心物)

See "Shūshin-mono"...

Shusu (繻子)

A kind of textile. The weave is characterised by warp yarns floating over multiple welt yarns (or vi...

Shōga (唱歌)

A written representation of an instrumental performance. There are two types of shōga, those that in...

Shōgi (床几)

The kazuraoke, or chair used by the shitekata, wakikata and kyōgenkata. The shōgi is around 50cm tal...

Shōzoku (装束)

The costumes in Noh and kyōgen. Includes the kimono worn as the very bottom layer of the costume (a ...

Shūgen (祝言)

Celebratory Noh played at the end of a day’s performance. Also known as shūgen-noh, in the official ...

Shūshin-mono (執心物)

One type of Noh play, included in the yonbanme-mono (“fourth performance” or “random Noh”). The main...

Soga-mono (曽我物)

A collection of Noh plays based on events when early Kamakura-era samurai brothers Soga Jurō Sukena...

Soga (早歌)

See "Sōga" ...

Soryo (僧侶)

See "Sōryo"...

Sotogumi (外組)

The Utaibon is the book of words (lyrics) and musical notation for the syllables, and when they are ...

Su-utai-ogi (素謡扇)

See "Su-utai-ōgi"...

Su-utai-ōgi (素謡扇)

A fan used for su-utai (vocals without hayashi). It is a type of shizume-ōgi but slightly smaller (f...

Su-utai (素謡)

Utai in Noh sung completely without the inclusion of the hayashi. There are no movements such as dan...

Suiei-no-kan (垂纓冠)

A crown used for an emperor or nobleman role, with a tail hanging in an arc behind it. The emperor ...

Suki-kammuri (透冠)

Type of headgear. A black crown used by male gods who perform a divine dance, such as in “Takasago”...

Sumiboshi (角帽子)

See "Sumibōshi"...

Sumibōshi (角帽子)

One type of headwear in Noh and kyōgen. The sumibōshi, or “angled hat,” is worn by monk roles, with ...

Sumitori (角取り)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The area close to the metsuke-bashira or “eye-fixing pillar” in ...

Suo (素袍)

See "Suō"...

Suppa (すっぱ)

A character in kyōgen. A swindler. In kyōgen, the suppa uses fancy words to trick peasants out of th...

Surihaku (摺箔)

A type of lined kosode, or short-sleeved kimono, worn as the innermost layer of the costume of a fem...

Suō (素袍)

A long-sleeved garment with matching top and bottom worn by male characters. The suō is used for cha...

Sōga (早歌)

A form of music from the middle ages. Sōga is a style of full-length song perfected by the Priest My...

Sōryo (僧侶)

A character in kyōgen. Living a ascetic life in the mountains and said to possess supernatural power...

Shibyōshi (四拍子)

Shibyōshi, or “four rhythms” is the collective name for the flute, kotsuzumi, ōtsuzumi and taiko. It...