1.
kagura, sacred Shinto music and dance
A form of ritual music and dance performed to honor and entertain the Shinto gods (kami). One of Japan's oldest performing arts, originating in myths about the goddess Ame no Uzume dancing to lure Amaterasu out of a cave. Performed at shrines during festivals.
神社で神楽が奉納された。
Kagura was performed as an offering at the shrine.
秋祭りでは毎年地元の人たちが神楽を舞う。
At the autumn festival, local people perform kagura dances every year.
神楽の起源は、天照大神が天の岩戸に隠れた際に天宇受売命が踊ったことにあるとされる。
The origin of kagura is said to lie in the dance performed by Ame no Uzume when Amaterasu hid in the cave of heaven.
USAGE:
There are two main types: 御神楽 (court kagura performed at the imperial palace) and 里神楽 (folk kagura performed at local shrines). Folk kagura varies greatly by region and is a living tradition still performed at festivals throughout Japan.
ETYMOLOGY:
Believed to derive from 神座 (seat of the gods), referring to the sacred space where the gods gather to be entertained.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 神楽を舞う: to perform a kagura dance
- 神楽を奉納する: to offer/dedicate a kagura performance
- 神楽殿: kagura hall (at a shrine)
- 神楽面: kagura mask