ai-kyōgen
dramatic arts
Quick Summary
Ai-kyōgen refers to the comic interludes performed during Japanese Noh theater cycles. These brief farces, expressed in the vernacular of the late 16th century, serve to relieve the dramatic tension of the Noh plays. Ai-kyōgen are performed in ordinary dress and typically without masks, unless used for parody. They are interspersed among the Noh pieces, and over time, kyōgen evolved into an independent dramatic form.1
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.