JAPANESE &

CHINESE
DRAMA
JAPANESE DRAMA
THREE FORMS
NOH PLAYS
 NOH PLAYS

• The oldest of the three forms of

Japanese drama
• Developed during the 1300s from the
dances performed at religious shrines
• Noh plays are poetic treatments of
history, love story, war story, and
legends, influenced by the religious
beliefs of Buddhism and Shintoism
 NOH PLAYS

Like the ancient Greek tragedy, Noh drama is performed by masked

actors, and is usually accompanied by music, dance, and choral speaking.
JORURI PLAY
 JORURI PLAY

• A puppet drama
• Popularized between 1650-1730, but is
now restricted to Bunraku Theatre,
Osaka
• Involves puppet manipulation to a higher
level involving complicated skills
• Puppets are about 3 ft tall and
manipulated by as many as 3 men
• Movement of tongue, finger, joints, and
eyelids are possible
KABUKI DRAMA
 KABUKI DRAMA

• Most popular form of Japanese

drama
• It originated in the 16 th century
• Settings and costumes are lavish,
acting is extremely broad and
exaggerated, and heavy make-up is
used instead of masks
• Most famous for its spectacular
visual effects like scenic effects of
 KABUKI DRAMA

The plot:
1. Historical plays and legendary events
• Loyalty of warrior to their lords
• Include duels
• Suicide scenes

2. Domestic plays
• Based on moral and emotional conflicts of ordinary
people
• often about impossible romances
CHINESE
DRAMA
3 types
 VUN PAN SHI

• The oldest form of Chinese play

• It has patriotism and filial
devotion for its subjects
• Music and action unite to play
upon the emotions of the
audience
 SIN PAN SHI
• Presents civil and military condition
• Difference from Vun Pan Shi: not the
libretto (musical work not intended for
the stage), but in the manner of singing
certain roles and in the tradition of
acting
 VUN MIN SHI

• Also known as the “modern

play”
• Colloquial dialects are allowed
instead of Mandarin, the dialect
of Peking, which is the accepted
speech of the stage as well as
the nation