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Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA)
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001
Culture
George Kamau
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Exploring Honor and Sadness in Zeami Motokiyo
’
s
“
Atsumori
”
through Dramatic Elements and
Cultural Context
Noh theater is a historic traditional Japanese dramatic art form that integrates music,
dance, and acting to recount stories saturated with history and spirituality. Emerging in the 14th
century, Noh is defined by its minimalist artistic style, symbolic attire, and masks, which
collectively build a distinct and profound performance method that has been maintained over
hundreds of years (Bayley). The eminent Noh drama
“
Atsumori
”
by Zeami Motokiyo dramatizes
the fateful historical encounter on the battlefield between the seasoned warrior Kumagai
Naozane and the young aristocratic Atsumori amid the Genpei War. This poignant meeting is
permeated with heartache and the burden of honor, as Kumagai grapples with the moral
quandary between obligation and mercy. This paper analyzes how dramatic elements and
cultural context have been integrated to convey sadness and honor.
The concept of
“
giri
”
stood as a cornerstone, signifying an intense obligation to duty and
societal norms in the fabric of samurai society. This ethical principle was more than a mere
guideline; it was the essence of a samurai
’
s very being, influencing choices and steering their
actions. Miyahara and Segundo-Ortin articulate that
“
giri
”
extended beyond a societal
expectation to become a defining feature of the samurai
’
s very existence, compelling them to put
societal needs above their own (Miyahara and Segundo-Ortin 192). The reach of
“
giri
”
permeated all facets of samurai existence, binding them to a life where personal ambition was
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Last Name 2
often surrendered in the face of collective ethos (Endo
“
Performativity and Spirituality in Noh
Theater
”
107). Zeami
’
s
“
Atsumori
”
reflects this internal conflict, portraying a protagonist
ensnared by
“
giri,
”
navigating the moral intricacies that accompany the burdensome duty of
taking a life, a narrative that Endo scrutinizes to reveal deeper cultural insights (Endo
“
Performativity and Spirituality in Noh Theater
”
107).
While the notion of
“
giri
”
delineated the unwavering duty binding the samurai, the
concept of
“
kana
”
represented the profound undercurrent of sorrow inherent in their existence.
This term encapsulated the grief born from the ephemeral nature of life, a stark reality for
samurai who often met their end by the very sword they lived by (Gilomen and Fish 3).
“
Kana
”
was not merely an emotion but a reflection of the tremendous cost of abiding by
“
giri,
”
with the
grim specter of ceaseless war casting melancholy shadows that permeated the samurai psyche.
The arts, specifically Noh theater, emerged as an outlet for this collective mourning, channeling
the existential melancholy of the samurai into performances like Zeami
’
s
“
Atsumori.
”
As
Jamieson
’
s analysis reveals, Noh theater strategically employed evocative language and vivid
imagery to give life to
“
kana
”
on stage by manifesting the internal turmoil samurai felt toward
loss and the fleeting nature of existence (Jamieson 137). Through the embodiment of
“
kana,
”
Noh performances like
“
Atsumori
”
allowed the bereavement inherent in the samurai condition to
be expressed artistically through theatre.
Thus, the interweaving of honor and sorrow in
“
Atsumori
”
is emblematic of the deeper
existential tension within the samurai condition. As Yukihide Endo observes, the interplay
between the actors and audience in Noh drama frequently reflects the real-life friction between
“
giri
”
and
“
kana,
”
whereby the pursuit of honor inevitably culminates in a confrontation with
sadness (Endo
“
Intertextuality in Noh Plays: The Text Interacting with the Audience
”
81). This
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profound duality constitutes a pivotal theme in
“
Atsumori,
”
underscoring the complexity of the
samurai ethos and the emotional profundity undergirding it. The play encapsulates how the path
of honor or
“
giri
”
mandated by the samurai code paradoxically led to deep wells of sorrow or
“
kana.
”
One of the dramatic elements applied is structure. Zeami strategically structures
“
Atsumori
”
in two distinct parts, aligning with the conventional jo-ha-
kyū format of Noh thea
ter.
The opening segment establishes the characters and historical backdrop, while the latter portion
probes the emotional intricacies of the tale, investigating the key themes through action and
discourse (Endo
“
Performativity and Spirituality in Noh Theater
”
107). This bifurcated
composition is instrumental in dramatizing honor and sorrow. The initial exposition lays the
foundation for comprehending the samurai
’
s
“
giri,
”
whereas the ensuing sections artfully unravel
the consequent
“
kana,
”
interweaving the protagonist
’
s internal and external conflicts (Jamieson
137). This format allows Zeami to methodically build the context of honor in the first act before
plunging into the melancholy that flows from adhering to the samurai code.
Zeami
’
s use of poetic language in
“
Atsumori
”
elevates the literary richness of the text,
with verses that resonate with the elegance and complexity innate to the samurai ethos (Jamieson
137). This astute linguistic choice not only infuses lyrical splendor into the discourse but also
deepens the thematic exploration of honor and sorrow. The evocative imagery and metaphors
interspersed throughout the drama, such as the frequent allusions to nature and the seasons,
enrich the multilayered narrative. These poetic devices imbue the tale with intricate layers of
meaning that profoundly reflect on the fleeting magnificence of life and the inescapable
melancholy that accompanies mortality (Gilomen and Fish 3). For instance, Zeami draws on the
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symbolism of the cherry blossom, which blooms resplendently but quickly scatters, to
underscore the ephemerality of existence.
The symbolism in
“
Atsumori
”
is profound, with the imagery of falling cherry blossoms
epitomizing the ephemeral essence of life and the sorrow that accompanies this stark realization.
During a pivotal moment when the warrior ghost Atsumori recounts his tragic demise, Zeami
’
s
stage directions state,
“
Cherry blossoms fall like rain through the mist
”
(Motokiyo 19). These
delicate blooms, depicted fluttering down in the backdrop of the play, serve as a vivid reminder
of the fleeting beauty inherent in existence and the tragic splendor of the samurai
’
s fated journey,
mirroring the impermanent nature of the characters themselves and the pervading melancholy
suffusing their lives (Endo
”
Intertextuality in Noh Plays: The Text Interacting with the
Audience
”
81). Furthermore, symbols like the masks and costumes convey multifaceted
dimensions of the personas and emotions of the characters, enhancing the audience
’
s
appreciation of the intricate themes of honor and sorrow within the drama. For instance, the
demon mask (
hannya
) worn by Atsumori projects his tortured soul (Motokiyo 12).
Furthermore, Zeami Motokiyo deftly employs the dramatic element of contrast in
“
Atsumori
”
to convey the central themes of honor and sorrow. The play artfully juxtaposes
Atsumori
’
s youthfulness against the doleful inevitability of his early death. When the ghost of
Atsumori recollects,
“
I was but sixteen years of age when I first donned armor and went to
war...No thought of death occurred to me
”
(Motokiyo 24), it underscores his naivete and
optimism before his life was cut short. This stark dichotomy amplified by Zeami not only
underscores the fragility of existence but also magnifies the nobility associated with honor in
samurai culture. Such contrast further accentuates the tragedy of Atsumori
’
s fate, as it is
precisely his duty-bound honor that leads him to this poignant demise (Endo
“
Intertextuality in
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Noh Plays
”
81). Zeami uses contrast to illustrate the impermanent and ephemeral nature of life, a
concept integral to the samurai ethos and spiritual essence of Noh theater (Endo
“
Performativity
and Spirituality in Noh Theater
”
107).
Foreshadowing is another pivotal dramatic technique Zeami dexterously employs in
“
Atsumori
”
to hint at the impending tragedy, subtly weaving in omens that create an atmosphere
ripe with portent. When the chorus sings,
“
The flower of his youth / Must scatter as the blossom /
Of the morning glory...
”
it grimly foretells Atsumori
’
s premature demise (Motokiyo 23). Such
anticipatory hints gradually lead the audience toward the inevitable climax of Atsumori
’
s death
on the battlefield. The emotional impact of this foreshadowing is profound, as it primes the
spectator for the looming sorrow, deepening the experience of the play
’
s tragic conclusion
(Jamieson 137). Furthermore, the use of foreshadowing reflects the ineluctability of destiny in
the samurai domain, where honor often has a steep price (Gilomen and Fish 3). Foreshadowing
not only sets the stage for calamity but also immerses the audience into the worldview where
honor may portend one
’
s undoing.
Finally, irony is masterfully embedded throughout
“
Atsumori,
”
particularly in how the
protagonist
’
s noble intentions ultimately culminate in tragic consequences. A pivotal example
arises when Atsumori recounts how his adherence to bushidō led him to proudly declare, “
To die
for one
’
s lord is the only death that counts
”
(Motokiyo 32). Yet this very commitment to samurai
honor code ironically results in his untimely demise in the battle, exemplifying the cruel irony of
honor in a volatile world marked by conflict and mortality (Miyahara and Segundo-Ortin 192).
Through this ironic twist, Zeami accentuates the unpredictability of fate while offering a
poignant commentary on the intricate interplay between duty and personal ethics for the samurai
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navigating a tumultuous era. The irony underscores how noble goals can sometimes lead to
disastrous ends.
In conclusion, Zeami Motokiyo
’
s masterpiece
“
Atsumori
”
represents a profound
exemplar of the finesse of Noh theater, deftly portraying the samurai
’
s inner conflict between
honor and the inescapable melancholy that trails it. Through minimalist yet potent storytelling
using symbolic designs and lyrical dialogue, the drama encapsulates the quintessence of Noh
while offering a timeless reflection on the human experience. Zeami
’
s work vividly dramatizes
the internal anguish of its characters, providing a glimpse into the samurai psyche, characterized
by the weighty notions of
“
giri
”
and
“
kana.
”
The play
’
s meticulous construction and integration
of dramatic techniques such as juxtaposition, portents, and paradoxes not only recount a
historical event but also elicit a deeper philosophical rumination on the ephemeral magnificence
of life and the enduring nature of grief. Through
“
Atsumori,
”
Zeami strikes a harmonious
equilibrium between narrating history and probing existential ideas, establishing it as a
consummate work within the Noh repertoire that persists in resonating with audiences centuries
later. The play
’
s elegant exploration of honor and sorrow via dramatic craft remains relevant
even today, transcending its medieval origins.
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Works Cited
Bayley, H. S. M. (2023).
Music and sound in the Japanese'ghost'film: cultural representation
and transformation
(Doctoral dissertation).
Endo, Y. (2022). Performativity and Spirituality in Noh Theater.
The International Journal of
Literary Humanities
,
20
(2), 107.
Endo, Yukihide. "Intertextuality in Noh Plays: The Text Interacting with the Audience."
The
International Journal of Literary Humanities
22.1 (2023): 81.
Gilomen, N. C., & Fish, T. (2023). Perceived Phantoms: A Phenomenological Observation of
Spirituality in Atsumori.
The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research
,
10
(1), 3.
Jamieson, D. (2022). Spirit of P
lace: Zeami’s Tōru and the Poetic Manifestation of
Mugen.
Japanese Studies
,
42
(2), 137-153.
Miyahara, K., & Segundo-Ortin, M. (2022). Situated self-awareness in expert performance: a
situated normativity account of riken no ken.
Synthese
,
200
(3), 192.
Motokiyo, Zeami.
Atsumori
. Volume Edizioni srl, 2014.
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