Jump to content
Font Size：

Language

Bugaku Costumes

  • Image of "Bairo-Ryoto (Vest for Bugaku performance), Curvilinear lines and cherries on pink brocade, Edo period, 19th century"

    Bairo-Ryoto (Vest for Bugaku performance), Curvilinear lines and cherries on pink brocade, Edo period, 19th century

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 9
    December 26, 2007 (Wed) - February 17, 2008 (Sun)

    Bugaku is a type of music with accompanying dance performances that was imported into Japan from continental Asia in the late 8th century. During the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1192) periods it developed a style unique to Japan as the official performing art of the imperial court, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. This tradition was inherited throughout the medieval and early-modern ages by temples and shrines, as well as court aristocrats in their individual annual events. At the court, which put a special emphasis on customs and manners, the bugaku costumes also reflect a strong traditional flair.

    Bugaku costumes are divided into two types by the kind of music:

    Togaku - Chinese style music, generally called saho (left style) preferring red costumes
    Komagaku - Korean style music, generally called uho (right style) preferring blue costumes.

    Depending on the style of the dance, they are classified further as follows:

    Hiramai - quiet dances involving many dancers, using tsune-type costumes
    Bumai - martial dances using swords or spears, using bane-type costumes
    Hashirimai - energetic dances using masks, using ryoto-type costumes
    Additionally there is dobu, charming performances by children including Kocho and Karyobin dances.

    This exhibition introduces bugaku costumes of the medieval and pre-modern periods along these categories, offering an opportunity to enjoy the refined colors and design of the Japanese court culture.

 Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Bairo-Ryoto (Vest for Bugaku performance), Curvilinear lines and cherries on pink brocade, Edo period, 19th century
Kitoku-Ryoto (Vest for Bugaku performance), Nested lozenges and roundels on light brown karaori, Edo period, 19th century
Exhibitions