吟剣詩舞とは日本の伝統芸能の一つで、吟詠、剣舞、詩舞の総称。
吟詠とは、漢詩に節という独特のリズムを付けて詠う、日本の古典邦楽。起源は紀元前、中国で作詞された漢詩であり、日本では古事記、日本書紀、和歌などを自分の感情表現として詠ったものとされている。現在の吟詠の型が確立したのは江戸末期。近年では宮沢賢治の「雨ニモマケズ」や島崎藤村の「椰子の実」なども吟詠として詠われるようになった。
剣舞とは、吟詠に合わせて主に日本刀を使って舞う、日本の古典舞踊。起源は15世紀末頃の戦国時代に武士が、日本刀の所作を舞にしたものになり、吟詠の題目に合わせて勇ましい表現をし、士気の高揚が目的とされていた。武士発祥の舞なので、衣装は紋付き袴と簡素なものとなっている。
詩舞とは、吟詠に合わせて主に扇子を使って舞う、日本の古典舞踊。起源は剣舞確立以後の戦国時代であり、刀だけでは表現できない題目に扇子の表現を加えたものになる。風景、恋愛、心情など題目は多岐にわたるが、剣舞同様に武士発祥の舞のため、女形は基本的には存在しない。
About Gin-ken-shibu
Gin-Ken-Shibu is one of the many Japanese Traditional Arts and is also a general term for Ginei, Kenbu and Shibu.
Ginei is a traditional Japanese style of singing in which one would attach a unique rhythm called “Setsu” to Chinese poems and sing it. Ginei has its origins in the BC (Before Christ) era where the lyrics for the songs were composed in ancient China. At that time in Japan, Ginei was seen as a way of expressing one’s feelings and emotions through singing contents from sources such as Kojiki (Japan’s oldest historical records), Nihonshoki ( Second Oldest book of Japanese Classical History) and Japanese poems. The modern way of singing Ginei was established at the end of the Edo era.
Kenbu is a traditional Japanese dance which primarily involves a Japanese sword (Katana) and is danced to the rhythm of Ginei. Kenbu has its origins in the Sengoku warring era in the 15th century where the samurai created a dance to express songs sung in Ginei utilizing their Katana techniques. Kenbu was seen as a way for samurai to display their gallantness and to boost the morale of their troops. As Kenbu was a dance invented by the samurais, the clothing worn in Kenbu performances are usually plain and simple such as family crest-engraved Japanese Hakamas.
Shibu is a traditional Japanese dance which utilizes a Japanese fan and is danced to the rhythm of Ginei as well. Shibu has its origins in the Sengoku warring era after the establishment of Kenbu where a Japanese fan was used to express songs in Ginei that cannot be expressed through the Katana. Shibu covers a wide range of songs in Ginei including love songs, songs about scenery and emotion. Like Kenbu, Shibu is a dance invented by the samurai, thus female characters are largely non-existent.