Zeami (1363–1443)
Author of On the Art of the No Drama: The Major Treatises of Zeami (Princeton Library of Asian Translations)
About the Author
Not only was Zeami a playwright of unparalleled genius and productivity, he was also an actor. About half the currently performed plays in the Japanese Noh repertory are from his hand. Besides composing over 150 plays, he wrote a number of critical works on Noh and its performance. Since his father show more was the most respected Noh performer of his time, Zeami grew up in the theater and remained with it until he was 59 and entered the priesthood. At 71 he was exiled to Sado Island. Why this happened is uncertain, but we can assume that he was pardoned, because he died in Kyoto. Most Noh plays in English collections are his. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Zeami
On the Art of the No Drama: The Major Treatises of Zeami (Princeton Library of Asian Translations) (1984) 36 copies
Kadensho 3 copies
Matsukaze 2 copies
Yashima 2 copies
Plays 2 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- 元清
- Other names
- 鬼夜叉
藤若
世阿彌陀佛
世阿弥 (Pseudonyme forme internationale japonais)
Seami (Pseudonyme)
Zeami Motokiyo (Pseudonyme translit.-non ISO japonais) (show all 10)
世阿弥 元清 (Pseudonyme japonais)
Kanze Motokiyo (Pseudonyme translit.-non ISO japonais)
観世 元清 (Pseudonyme japonais)
Yûzaki, Saemon Tayû Motokiyo - Birthdate
- c. 1363/1364
- Date of death
- 1443-09-01
- Gender
- male
- Relationships
- 観阿弥 (father)
元雅, 観世 (son) - Short biography
- Acteur et dramaturge du théâtre nô. - Fils de l'acteur Kan'ami. - K̲a̲n'̲ami et Z̲e̲ami fondent l'école K̲a̲n̲z̲e̲. - Zeami prend alors le nom de famille "Kanze", ainsi son fils s'appelle Kanze Motoyoshi.
- Nationality
- Japan
- Places of residence
- Kyoto, Japan
- Associated Place (for map)
- Kyoto, Japan
Members
Reviews
A classic Noh play; one of the ones later reimagined by Yukio Mishima in his Five Modern No Plays.
An elderly gardener falls hopelessly in love with a beautiful princess, who tauntingly promises to meet him if he summons her with a drum beat: but the drum she gives him is made of soft damask- and therefore can't be heard.
The cultural and religious elements will be familiar to those who've watched Noh plays or read Japanese fairytales extensively, but the play is interesting and show more artfully-written, and still worth a read. It's amazing how across cultures and a thousand years of time, some stories are still so relevant; human nature hasn't changed, and neither has the nature of love. The tale is still relatable across the seas and after a millennium passed. show less
An elderly gardener falls hopelessly in love with a beautiful princess, who tauntingly promises to meet him if he summons her with a drum beat: but the drum she gives him is made of soft damask- and therefore can't be heard.
The cultural and religious elements will be familiar to those who've watched Noh plays or read Japanese fairytales extensively, but the play is interesting and show more artfully-written, and still worth a read. It's amazing how across cultures and a thousand years of time, some stories are still so relevant; human nature hasn't changed, and neither has the nature of love. The tale is still relatable across the seas and after a millennium passed. show less
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 27
- Members
- 152
- Popularity
- #137,197
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 2
- ISBNs
- 25
- Languages
- 7
- Favorited
- 1