Zeami Motokiyo

Start Free Trial

Zeami Motokiyo Criticism

Zeami Motokiyo, also known as Kanze Motokiyo Zeami, stands as a transformative figure in the history of Japanese theater, credited with elevating nō drama into a sophisticated and revered art form. Born in 1363, Zeami inherited the tradition of nō performance from his father, Kanze Kiyotsugu, and significantly shaped its aesthetics and philosophical depth. His prolific output includes around 240 plays, with surviving works such as The Lady Aoi and Takasago remaining integral to the nō repertoire. Zeami's plays are marked by their formal and stylized performances, combining dance, music, and mime in a manner that infuses Zen Buddhist spirituality, as noted in The Goddess Emerges: Shinto Paradigms in the Aesthetics of Zeami and Zenchiku.

Contents

  • Principal Works
  • Zeami (Drama Criticism)
    • *Principal Works
    • Overviews And General Studies
      • Zeami on Art: A Chapter for the History of Japanese Aesthetics
      • An introduction to The Old Pine Tree and Other Noh Plays
      • The Conventions of the Nō Drama
      • Zeami on Performance
      • Japanese Noh
  • Zeami (Literary Criticism (1400-1800))
    • Zeami Motokiyo: Imitation, Yugen, and the Sublime
    • Zeami and the Art of the Nō Drama: Imitation, Yugen, and Sublimity
    • Zeami and Women in Love
    • The Two Shizukas: Zeami's Futari Shizuka
    • Zeami's Conception of Freedom
    • The Theoretical Writings of Zeami
    • Zeami's Mature Thoughts on Acting
    • The Style of Nō
    • The Goddess Emerges: Shinto Paradigms in the Aesthetics of Zeami and Zenchiku
  • Further Reading