EXPLORING
FESTIVALS AND
THEATRICAL FORMS
OF ASIA
TOPICS
• THAILAND-LANTERN FESTIVAL
• JAPAN-KODO TAIKO DRUM
FESTIVAL
• ASIAN THEATRICAL FORMS
• KABUKI
• NOH
• WAYANG KULIT
• PEKING OPERA
What are Thai Lantern Festival-
some of the China, Japan,Korea
festivals and Philippines
celebrated
in Asian
region? and Japan Taiko
Drum Festival
What are the characteristics
of the Thai Lantern Festival?
• In this festival, family
members,lovers,and friends
gather on the riverbanks to
float flowers and candles.
• They also launch fireworks and
release Thai lanterns at the
same time.
• The Thais believe that bad luck
will fly away with the lanterns.
MATERIALS
Oiled rice For hot air: a
paper or small candle or
lightweight waxy
papers, combustible
bamboo frame material lit
Religious History
• Based on the beliefs of Brahmanism
• Symbolize knowledge or light that
guides them on the right path to
follow life.
• It highlights the people's belief that
their effort in creating artistic and
durable lanterns at the temples will
make their wish come true.
What is the Japan Kodo
Taiko Drum Festival?
Japanese word kodo could refer
to both a
heartbeat(ko-heart/do-rhythm
or children of the drum(ko-
child/do-rhythm.
Taiko music in Japan is based
on the strong tradition that
encourages meditation by
means of its sound or highly
energetic sounds.
What is Modern
Taiko Ensemble?
• There are 32 performing
members( 26 men, 6 women)in
Kodo and 28 staff members
• They play drums, percussion
instruments
• Their popular costume is
loincloth or fundoshi in
Japanese adds to masculinity of
the groups performance
What are • Noh and Kabuki in Japan
some
theatrical • Chinese Peking Opera
forms • Wayang Kulit of Indonesia
celebrated all
• Asian theater combines
over the
Asian region? storytelling, dance,music
and mime.
JAPAN
• What is the KABUKI?
• Popular theater in Japan
• It is famous for its
highly artistic
showmanship.
• Not only the costume
but also the actions are
highly stylized.
• Well known for its
attractive visuals
• Kabuki is a traditional Japanese
theatrical art form that combines
dance, drama, music, and makeup.
It's known for its stylized
performances, elaborate costumes,
and makeup.
• Features
• Acting: Male actors perform both male and female roles.
• Music: Traditional instruments like drums, flutes, wooden
clappers, and samisen accompany the plays.
• Costumes: Glamorous and highly decorated.
• Makeup: Elaborate kumadori makeup, including red, indigo blue,
black, green, and purple.
• Stage: Revolving stages, trapdoors, and a footbridge that
extends into the audience.
• Plays: About historical events and moral conflict, and often
violent.
What are the elements and principles of
arts shown in Kabuki
• FORMALIZED ACTING
• -movements look like dancing
• Every gesture is with music
• Actor pauses momentarily as if in a picture pose during
climactic moments
• Speaking is not natural but in an ideal speech style
• Long monologue done in a fascinating style which sounds
like half singing and half speaking
ACTORS
• Trained in Japanese dancing and music
• Acting craft has been passed on form
many generations in the family
• Highly esteemed in society
MUSIC
ELEMENT
S
• The basic musical
instrument is called
the shamisen, a
three-stringed
instrument
• Music accompanies
the actor’s acting
and dialogs
Costume, Make-up,
Props
• Attractive, bright
colors
• Extraordinary,spec
ial,colorful
PLOT OF THE STORY
• Based in historical events
• Love stories
• Tragic stories
•Japanese
Noh Theater
What are the
characteristic
s of the
Japanese Noh
Theater?
• -very old form of
dance drama at
temples or
shrines which
dates back from
the 12th or 13th
century.
•The word Noh means
talent, skill and craft in
art performance.
• In the olden times, it
was performed by the
samurai or the warrior
class as their
expression of prayer
for peace and long
life.
• At present , the
song and dance
movement of Noh
is performed by
professional
actors.
• It is now acclaimed as an
Intangible Cultural
Heritage by the UNESCO.
• Intangible cultural
heritage is a community's
knowledge, skills, and
practices that are passed
down through generations
What are the artistic
elements of Noh?
• Language is poetic.
• Movement is slow.
• Themes often relate to dreams,
supernatural worlds, ghosts, and spirit
• Plots are usually drawn from legend,
history, literature and contemporary
events.
• Costumes are rich and heavy.
• Tone is monotonous.
What are the
elements of
the masks and
costumes of
Noh?
• MASKS-
Materials:blocks of
Japanese cypress
tree
• Design:3D, Can
express different
facial expressions
• Color-neutral earth
color
• Types of Noh Masks
• Otoko – men mask
• Chūjō – has a noble
womanish look,
represents sophisticated,
educated, graceful and
sorrowful man.
• Kagekiyo – represents a
deranged person, once a
great soldier who was
defeated and exiled,
prisoned, lost his sight and
became a beggar.
• Kumasaka – a famous thief
and leader of a gang of
robbers, has bright eyes
that represent strong
caution
• Onna – women mask
• Zō – has classical
features of the broad
forehead and tense
cheeks that show the
dignity of the goddess,
fairy or celestial nymph
character.
• Rōjo – has the thin aged face
of an old woman and straight
nose and sparkle in the eyes
showing a glimpse of the
beauty of youth.
• Fukai – is the portrait of a
middle-aged woman in her
forties with wrinkles from build
up experiences like love,
marriage, pregnancy, children,
and divorce.
• Onryō – spirit or ghost mask
• Yase-onna – looks weak and
in misery, represents a
woman with grudge and
jealousy who could not go
to Nirvana and became a
ghost.
COSTUMES
• Materials: silk
• Design: bulky, multiple
layers and textures, use
of triangles and
hexagons are symbolic
for thunder, gods, and
snakes
• Color. Bright colors
• All male
Who are the actors of Noh? • -the leading actor is
called a shite-a diety
or god, a holy old
man, o good living
man or spirit.
• It express the moods
or emotions
conveyed.
• The supporting actor
is called the waki.-
could not be a
supernatural being,it
has to be a living
man.
The four musicians play
a flute and three types
of drums(shoulder,hip
and stick drums)
The chorus sits to the
left of the stage and
assists the shite in the
narration of the story.
What are the props
used in Noh?
• Some of the props are mallets,
swords, and other common
household or farm tools. The
most popular is the hand fan
which is plays at the side of the
actor.
WHAT IS THE NOH
STAGE?
Shape is square.
Backboard is painted with three
small pine trees.
In front of the backboard are the
musicians
Stage is open on three sides
