1.
shirabyoshi; female dancer-entertainer of the Heian and Kamakura periods
Female performers of the late Heian and Kamakura periods who danced and sang while dressed in male court attire (a white suikan robe and tall eboshi hat). The name comes from the simple, unaccompanied rhythm (白拍子) of their performances. Famous shirabyoshi include Shizuka Gozen and Giō.
白拍子は男装で舞を舞った。
Shirabyoshi performed their dances dressed in men's clothing.
静御前は有名な白拍子だった。
Shizuka Gozen was a famous shirabyoshi dancer.
平安時代末期から鎌倉時代にかけて、白拍子は貴族や武士の間で人気があった。
From the late Heian to the Kamakura period, shirabyoshi dancers were popular among nobles and warriors.
BACKGROUND:
白拍子 originally referred to a style of song and dance performed to a simple beat without instrumental accompaniment. It later came to refer to the female performers themselves. Their distinctive feature was performing in 男装 (male attire) — a 水干 (white robe) and 烏帽子 (tall court hat).
FAMOUS SHIRABYOSHI:
- 静御前 — beloved of 源義経
- 祇王 — featured in the 平家物語
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 白拍子の舞 (shirabyoshi dance)
- 白拍子を舞う (to perform a shirabyoshi dance)