Explain the history and traditions of Japanese music!

What kind of image do you have of Japanese music? Some may think of the hit songs of domestic artists that are popular these days, while others may think of old-fashioned music like gagaku.

Here, we will introduce the history, traditions, and characteristics of Japanese "ancient," "medieval," and "modern and contemporary" music.

Ancient Japanese music

Let's start with ancient Japanese music. What kind of music did our distant ancestors play and listen to?

Import of foreign music

From around the time of the Yamato administration, Japan began to see ties with China and the Korean Peninsula. It was around that time that foreign music was said to have been introduced to Japan. It is said that first Korean music and then Chinese music were introduced to Japan.

Characteristics of each era

Next, let's introduce the characteristics of ancient Japanese music for each era.

During the time of Empress Suiko in the 7th century, known as the Empress, Gigaku was introduced from Baekje, and in the 8th century, the current music of southern Vietnam, Rin Yugaku, was introduced. In the early Heian period, Balhae was introduced from China.

These musics have been handed down as gagaku performed in courts, etc., except for Gigaku.

Also, from the Heian period, you will be able to see "new songs of the Heian period" that are closer to foreign music. In the middle of the Heian period, a song called Ima-sama appeared. Nowadays, it became a big hit at the end of the Heian period, and it seems that there were many masters of this kind in Shirabyoshi.

Medieval Japanese music

Now let's take a look at medieval Japanese music.

Biwagaku: A general term for music that uses biwa

In the Middle Ages, biwa music using biwa appeared. Biwa is a general term for music and narratives that use biwa as an instrument. The main biwa is the blind priest Biwa, Heike Biwa, Chikuzen Biwa, Satsuma Biwa, etc.

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Characteristics of medieval Japanese music

Medieval Japanese music includes Heike biwa, Yokyoku, Noh, and Kabuki dance.

Heike biwa is a song that tells "The Tale of the Heike" with the accompaniment of Heike Biwa, and was spread by the priest-shaped blind people who roamed the countries.

Yokyoku is a song that appeared in the Middle Ages and the Muromachi period. Zeami said the Noh verse from a musical standpoint.

Among the Noh plays, Sarugaku Noh and Dengaku Noh are famous as medieval music. Dengaku is literally said to be a combination of Tamai as a rice planting event and acrobatic things introduced from China. On the other hand, Sarugaku Noh is another name for the current Noh, and it was completed by combining Sarugaku (a humorous impersonation) with Shirabyoshi dance and Ima-sama.

Kabuki dance appeared in the late Middle Ages. Izumo no Okuni, who also appears in Japanese history, is a master of this Kabuki dance. It is said that Kabuki dance was a further conversion of the previous Nenbutsu dance into Kabuki dance.

Modern and contemporary Japanese music

Lastly, I would like to introduce modern and contemporary Japanese music.

How did Japanese music change as a result of the import of Western music?

Until the Middle Ages, Japanese music was strongly influenced by the same Asian region, even though it was overseas. However, after the civilization of the Meiji era, Western music centered on Europe began to enter Japan. Along with that, Japanese music education has also come to be based on European classical music.

Until then, most Japanese music was sung by the local voice, such as Rokyoku and Gidayu, but the situation has changed significantly due to the fact that the local voice is not beautiful in Western music. ..

However, after World War II, music that mixes Western and Japanese music can be seen.

This music is a style called "modern Japanese music".

What is the origin of "Japanese music"?

"Japanese music" is, roughly speaking, traditional Japanese music. There are a wide variety of types of "Japanese music," and many music dictionaries refer to it as "a general term for Ainu music from Hokkaido and Japanese music excluding Okinawan music."

Since the Meiji era, Western music has been the mainstream for a while, so "Japanese music" has become a distant existence from people.

However, due to the "modern Japanese music" boom and the "Japanese music new wave" since the 1990s, "Japanese music" has once again attracted attention.

From 2002, it can be said that Japan's music education policy has changed significantly, such as the requirement to teach Japanese musical instruments in junior high school music classes.

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Summary

The appearance of Japanese music is very different in each era, ancient, medieval, modern and modern. In ancient times, music from the Korean Peninsula, China, Vietnam, etc. was introduced, and Japanese gagaku was formed. In the Middle Ages, biwa music using biwa appeared, and the story of the Heike and other stories spread to various countries by the blind people of the monk shape. Also, although the shape is different from the present, it is around this time that Noh and Kabuki dances will appear.

In modern times, the environment surrounding Japanese music will change drastically due to Western music coming from Europe and other countries. For a while, "Japanese music" in a broad sense disappeared completely, but with the passage of time, it has regained attention.

Even if you become a Japanese teacher, it will be useful to know deeply about Japanese music, which is influenced by both Western and Eastern music historically!

This article is a partial re-edit of the article published in Nihongo Biyori by KARUTA.
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