Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did Bunraku puppet theatre begin in Japan?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Japanese performing arts
Bugaku, a court dance adapted to Japanese tastes from the dance and music of 8th-century China and Korea.
The origins of Bunraku, or ayatsuri jōruri, trace back to the 11th century with the appearance of kugutsu-mawashi ("puppet turners"), who were traveling performers whose art may have originated in Central Asia.1
The development of the theatre as it is known today involved several key evolutions:
- Narrative Roots: The dramatic foundation of the art is jōruri, a form of chanted recitative. Initially, this was accompanied by the biwa (lute), but the introduction of the samisen from the Ryūkyū Islands in the 16th century allowed for more complex musical and dramatic expression.2
- Integration of Puppets: Puppets were added to jōruri performances at the end of the 16th century, transforming simple recitations into a sophisticated dramatic art.2
- Refinement: The art reached its height in the 18th century through the collaboration between the playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon and the chanter Takemoto Gidayū.12
The name "Bunraku" itself is more recent, deriving from a troupe organized by the puppet master Uemura Bunrakuken in the early 19th century.1