Japanese Arts | Shintō and Buddhist Music | Shintō music

(0:05) Kagura (music and dance of the gods) is performed in Shintō rituals... (0:12) ...to invite the kami (holy spirits) to inhabit the sacred area. (0:18) The practice varies with the context and locality. (0:25) MI-KAGURA - “palace” kagura performed at the royal court (0:31) Today, mi-kagura is performed annually at designated shrines... (0:37) ...including the central shrine inside the Tokyo Imperial Palace. (0:47) Dancers hold props (torimono) that are believed to activate the divine power to possess them. (0:55) The dancers sit in two groups, exchanging songs in call-and-response style. (1:02) There are three major accompanying instruments... (1:05) WAGON - six-string zither (1:08) KAGURA-BUE - transverse flute (1:11) HICHIRIKI - short cylindrical oboe (1:17) The Kagura leader (ninjo) dances with a branch of sacred sakaki with a ring... (1:24) ...to be presented to the emperor at the end. (1:28) The lead singer controls the pace with wooden clappers (shakubyoshi). (1:40) SATO-KAGURA - “village” kagura performed outside of the Imperial Palace (1:51) Miko-kagura is performed by purified women (miko) holding... (1:56) ...bells (suzu), fans (ogi), or bamboo or sakaki leaves as ritual implements. (2:09) Miko-kagura varies in different localities. (2:14) MIKO-KAGURA - performed at Gokoku shrine in Yamagata (2016) (2:26) Izumo-ryu kagura (Izumo style kagura) is found in the Izumo region throughout western Japan. (2:35) It incorporates a masked noh play where the performer is possessed by the kami. (2:44) Ise-ryu kagure (Ise style kagura) is found around Kyoto and parts of northern Japan. (2:50) The unique element involves sprinkling hot water for purification as an offering to the kami. (3:02) Shishi-kagura (lion kagura) is found throughout Japan, featuring a lion dance. (3:08) The lion head is worshipped as the sacred body (shintai). (3:13) The shaking of the head is a form of prayer (kito) or purification (harae). Related Wikipedia Links https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossar... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_S... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto_... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto_... Production Credits Author: Martina Li Producer: Rian Brown-Orso Associate Producer: Kate Douglas Editor: Emily Cohn ©2020 Cultural Resources LLC ➡ Subscribe to our Youtube channel: http://bit.ly/49ghL7M ➡ Try our App for 10 days free: https://bit.ly/42NvvDs Culture Atlas is an immersive educational web app built around a 3D interactive globe designed to help you get to know your world. www.cultureatlas.com