Shirabyoshi Hanako

Figures of the Showa Scene #4

Nakamura Utaemon VI as Shirabyoshi Hanako in "Musume Dojoji" (The girl at Dojo-ji Temple)

道明寺 - 六世中村歌右衛門丈 昭和舞台姿 その四

The print

  • Artist: Ôta Masamitsu

  • Publisher: Miyake Koshodo (Banchoro)

  • Carver: Nagai Otokichi (1902-1979)

  • Printer: Ito Harutaro

  • Date: 1951 #169/200

  • Format: Oban-tate

  • Catalogue: S-421



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The play

Musume Dojo-ji (The girl at Dojo-ji Temple) is the oldest dance drama based on a Nò play that was created in 1723 in Edo. The current play is a kabuki adaptation dated 1753 which was very popular. It is the story of a "Shirabyoshi", traditional entertainers which appeared in the 12th century and became popular at the Japanese imperial court. They danced exclusively for the nobility and high-ranking samourai. Shirabyoshi were always dressed as men and dedicated their dance to the gods. The name "shirabyoshi" means "white beat or simple rythm" referring to the slow and rythmic pace of their dance and their white make-up. They always wore Shinto-inspired masculine attire, which featured a hat, a samourai's sword, a red trouser (hakama), male priest white or red blouses (suikan) and a man fan.

Main characters

  • Shirabyoshi Hanako: A girl

  • Anchin: Former priest at the temple

  • Kyo-hime: Princess Kyo, in love with Anchin

The plot

The play takes place within the precinct of Dojo-ji Temple where a new bell has recently been dedicated. There has not been a bell at the temple for a long time due to a terrible story. Anchin, a priest at the temple was very handsome. Young princess Kyo-hime fell in love, but Anchin being a priest refused her advances. She continued to pursue him with great persistence. Finally after all these attempts had been thwarted, her passionate love for him turned into a deep hatred; and she turned into a fierce, fire-breathing serpent. The terrified priest ran and hid beneath its huge bell. In frustration the serpent coiled itself around the bell and poured fire out from its mouth until the bell melted and the priest burned to death. Since then, women have been forbidden to enter the temple.

Today, Hanako, a pretty young girl arrives and introduce herself as Hanako. She has heard about he new bell and asks to see it. The priests refuse at first, but they relent when she promises to dance in the bell's honor. She comes in and start a series of nine dances.

First she dances with a hat, then with a hand towel, then with a fan and other accessories, changing costume with each dance. Before long her dancing arouses some strange feelings in the priests and they try to drive her out of the temple. But she just gives them a sardonic smile and climbs atop the huge bell, revealing herself to be the spirit of Kiyo-hime. In another version, Odate Goro, the dragon hunter appears, chases the serpent flees and saves the bell.

The nine dances are very expressive and have different costumes and accessories:

  • Black kimono with cherries pattern and a fan

  • Red kimono with a golden hat - Solemn dance

  • Red kimono with a silver tiara (this print) - Light kabuki dance

  • Pale blue kimono with a ball made of cherry petals - Love dance (the cherry petals refer to reserved quarters)

  • Blue kimono with small hats - Joyful dance

  • Lavender blue kimono with small towel (see below) - Tender dance to show her love

  • Yellow kimono with a small drum - Dance associated with the spirit of the fox

  • Purple kimono with hand drum - Dance to celebrate the rice harvest

  • White kimono atop the bell - change into snake shape

Note: These quick changes of costume are the play main feature, a technique called Hikinuki. The kimono is cut at the waist and stage assistants come to pull the threads and remove completely the outer costume to reveal the inner one (see video below).

The actor

Nakamura Utaemon VI (1917-2001) was the best « onnagata » (male actor who plays female roles) of the second half of 20th century. The print above is from a performance at Tokyo Kabukiza Theater in April 1951.

Ito Shinsui - Shirabyoshi dancer (1962)

Kyo-hime spirit transforms herself into the serpent atop the temple's bell

Natori Shunsen - Hanako Dojo-ji (1951)

Quick costume change (hikinuki) in Dojoji: Nakamura Shikan VII in 1990 at National Theater in Tokyo