Dengaku

were rustic Japanese celebrations that can be classified into two types: dengaku that developed as a musical accompaniment to rice planting observances, and the dengaku dances that developed in conjunction with sangaku. The dengaku celebrated for rice planting was performed by villagers either at the New Year or during the planting season in early summer. It was only in the 14th century that these dances were brought to the cities and incorporated into Noh theater, notably by the playwright and actor Kan'ami. The instrument of dengaku is the sasara, a wooden percussive instrument clapper, though there are other instruments that can be used. In the Eiga Monogatari, there is a detailed description of the rice-planting dengaku. After being brought to the aristocrats, dengaku flourished till the end of the Heian period (794–1185) and became the main performing art of the Kamakura period (1185–1333), as well as part of the performing arts of the Muromachi period (1336–1573). By the end of the Muromachi period, dengaku had been eclipsed by sarugaku. Today it barely survives as a folk performing art. Dengaku was closely linked with the native Japanese religion of Shinto. Ritualistic elements of this were incorporated with sarugaku to form Noh theatre. In the late 11th century, Kyoto experienced dengaku performances that attracted all classes of people, either as observers or as participants. Some of these events ended peacefully, while others descended into violence; however, all were characterized by parades of people dressed in colorful costumes while dancing and playing loud music. Dengaku started as the music and dancing that performed in conjunction with field labor called ta-asobi. This form of rural entertainment evolved during the Heian period in response to diverse social, economic, political, and cultural movements. Two types of dengaku had developed by the latter half of the period. The first was the entertainment that accompanied field labor, but with new elements: the increasingly dominant entertaining aspect and the growing interest shown by local nobles.