Nagataki Ennen 長滝の延年 Hakusan Nagataki Shrine Shirotori Gujo Gifu by Kari Gröhn karigrohncom
長滝の延年
Nagataki Ennen
(Longevity Dances)
Hakusan Nagataki Shrine, Shirotori, Gujo, Gifu
In the past it was thought in Japan that dances and singing lengthened life, so performances after major Buddhist ceremonies were called ennen, meaning longevity. Ennen performances have developed in the mid Heian period. Later they declined and survived in only a few places. Nagataki Ennen is dedicated to the Hakusan Nagataki Shrine.
Nagataki Ennen 長滝の延年 Hakusan Nagataki Shrine Shirotori Gujo Gifu by Kari Gröhn karigrohncom
天津司舞 puppet play 那智の田楽 kagura dance 山屋の田植踊 rice planting pantomime 武雄の荒踊 warrior dance 長滝の延年 longevi
Zenkoku Minzoku Geino Taikai, All Japan Folk Dance and Music Convention, Nihon Seinenkan Hall, Tokyo, by Kari Gröhn karigrohncom, 20 November 2010 (Saturday)
1 Tenzushi no mai 天津司舞 (puppet play)
2 Nachi no Dengaku 那智の田楽 (traditional kagura dance)
3 Yamaya no Taue Odori 山屋の田植踊 (rice planting pantomime)
4 Takeo no Ara-odori 武雄の荒踊 (warrior dance)
5 Nagataki Ennen 長滝の延年 (longevity dance)
Tenzushi no mai 天津司舞 (puppet play)
Tenzushi no mai is a puppet play from Kofu in Yamanashi. It is the oldest puppet play of Japan, in particular, as representing the ancestral existence.
The nine puppets are held aloft on poles to perform ritual dengaku music and dance. Two of the dolls play binzasara clappers (Osasara-Sama), two with bigger drums (Otaiko-Sama),
one with a smaller one (Otsuzumi-Sama), and one with a flute (Ofue-Sama).
Kashima (Okashima-Sama) dances with swords and throws the small sword into the crowd to bring special luck and to protect from evil spirits the one who catches it. Finally, dance the demon (Oni-Sama) and the Princess Hime (Ohime-Sama).
The dolls are enshrined at Tenzushi shrine as the Shinto object of worship representing the nine deities of the shrine. The dolls serve as a display for the deities to ensure safe life for the local people and to pray for good harvest. The performances take place after the rice-planting ritual.
The origin of the ritual dates back to the 14th century. According to the legend, there were 12 dolls. But two of them went up to heaven and one disappeared in pond called Kagamiike (mirror pond).
Nachi no Dengaku 那智の田楽
Originally, Nachi no Dengaku was a traditional field dance honouring the gods after a good harvest. In dengaku-odori the dancers hold binzasara, which is an instrument consisting of 108 wooden plates linked by a cotton cord.
In Buddhism 108 is the number of evil passions. These desires disturb wisdom, cause disarrangement, and annoy the mind and body.
This traditional dance performed in the town of Nachi-Katsuura in Wakayama Prefecture was introduced to the district from Kyoto 600 years ago.
Yamaya no Taue Odori 山屋の田植踊 (rice planting pantomime)
Shiwa, Iwate 山屋の田植踊
Yamaya no taue odori is a theatrical presentation which traces the progress of the farming from planting to harvesting: dance of saotome (rice-planting maidens) wearing large flowery hats, boys dressed in women's attire, inari (fox kami of rice), and sanbaso
dance (old man, okina).
Sanbaso is a prayer to the gods for a bountiful harvest. Sometimes, sanbaso merely imitates or mimics an old man -- a mere mortal's poor imitation of a deity. Sanbaso is also performed to pray for such things as cures for illness and the safe delivery of babies.
Sanbaso is noted for the dancer's stamping, which suggests preparing the earth for planting. It begins slowly and builds into a very hypnotic, quick and powerful dance.
It is believed that the roots of Sanbaso lie in the myth of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, who hid in the heavenly rock cave Ama-no-Iwato. Sanbaso expresses how the gods descend to earth and is regarded as the most important performance piece among all the Shinto rituals.
Takeo no Ara-odori 武雄の荒踊 (warrior dance of Takeo)
Takeo no ara odori (Utode no ara odori) is performed in Nakano, Koze and Utode.
The dance originated as a victory celebration for the Lord of Takeo han over Arima, lord of Shimabara, in 1530.
Nagataki Ennen 長滝の延年 (Longevity Dance), Hakusan Nagataki Shrine, Shirotori, Gujo, Gifu
In the past it was thought that dances and singing lengthened life, so performances after major Buddhist ceremonies were called ennen, meaning longevity.
Ennen performances have developed in the mid Heian period. Later they declined and survived in only a few places.
鳳来寺田楽2015神天子の舞
愛知県新城市（旧南設楽郡鳳来町）門谷の鳳来寺に伝はる鳳来寺田楽は修正会の行事として行はれてゐましたが、現在は正月三日、多くの初詣の人の訪れる中で、昼をはさんで行はれてゐます。田遊び関連の次第が行はれてゐないのは残念ですが、それ以外は概ね行はれてゐます。神天子の舞のこと、これは２人の稚児によつて舞はれます。神天子はシテンジと読みます。「鳳来町誌」文化財編によれば、シテンジとは田楽の鼓をいふとのことゆゑ、本来は稚児の持つ鼓をいつたのが、そこから鼓を持つ稚児をシテンジといふやうになつたと思はれます。それを神天子と記したわけです。延年の稚児舞にあたるもののやうです。稚児は鼓を持つて様々な所作をしますが、呪師散楽の芸能が残つたものだとか。とにかく中世、あるいはそれ以前の古い芸態です。
おててこ舞（根知山寺の延年） 05
「根知山寺の延年」は、県内に伝わる唯一の延年芸能であり、昭和55年１月28日に国の重要無形民俗文化財に指定されています。
この山寺の延年は、風流（初期の歌舞伎踊）と稚児舞楽を中心に神楽・万才・獅子舞の類が加えられた計10曲で構成されています。舞の由来や起源は明らかではありませんが、歌詞の中に室町小歌に見られるような言葉や使い方があって、京都の流れを汲み、400～500年前から伝わるものと考えられています。
毎年９月１日の日吉神社の祭礼に奉納され、また、前日８月31日の夜には宵宮として９曲が奉納されるほか、夜店や盆踊りもあり、山里ならではの風情が感じられます。
おててこ舞（根知山寺の延年） 01
「根知山寺の延年」は、県内に伝わる唯一の延年芸能であり、昭和55年１月28日に国の重要無形民俗文化財に指定されています。
この山寺の延年は、風流（初期の歌舞伎踊）と稚児舞楽を中心に神楽・万才・獅子舞の類が加えられた計10曲で構成されています。舞の由来や起源は明らかではありませんが、歌詞の中に室町小歌に見られるような言葉や使い方があって、京都の流れを汲み、400～500年前から伝わるものと考えられています。
毎年９月１日の日吉神社の祭礼に奉納され、また、前日８月31日の夜には宵宮として９曲が奉納されるほか、夜店や盆踊りもあり、山里ならではの風情が感じられます。