Kagura

Kagura is a special dance for gods.

It started a long time ago. Some people believe a goddess once danced to bring light back to the world.

There are two main types of dance. One type is slow and calm. The other type has fast jumps and lots of energy.

In some dances, a person uses a wand. They also use music to call the gods. The dancer may even feel like a god during the dance.

People still do these dances today. They dance at shrines and in big cities. It is a living tradition that people love to watch.

Kagura is a special type of dance for gods.

The name means the presence of gods. People have performed these dances for over a thousand years.

Some stories say Kagura began with a famous tale. The sun goddess, Amaterasu, once hid in a cave. This made the world dark and cold. A goddess named Ame-no-Uzume led a wild dance. This dance helped bring the sun goddess back out.

There are two main ways to dance Kagura. One way is called Mikura. It is slow and very calm. The other way is called Sukemokura. It has fast jumps and lots of energy.

In some dances, a woman acts as a shaman. She may use a wand to clean a space. She uses music to call the gods. The dancer might even feel like a god during the dance.

Today, Kagura is still a living tradition. People perform it at shrines and in big cities. Some dances tell old stories. Other dances use masks to show spirits.

Many of these dances are very old and special.

Kagura is a special type of ritual dance used in Shinto traditions.

The name actually means the presence of gods. For many people, these dances are a way to welcome or greet deities. One major job of Kagura is to help a person reach a trance state. In this state, a female shaman might become a vessel for a god. She can receive messages or blessings through this deep connection. It is a living tradition that still follows the rhythms of the farming calendar.

There are two main ways that these dances work. The first type is called Mikura, which focuses on quiet and elegance. This style uses slow, circular movements to prepare the dancer for a trance. The second type is called Sukemokura, which is full of energy. This style involves quick leaping and jumping during the trance stage. During the preparation, a shaman might hold a ceremonial wand to purify the area. She uses music and circling movements to call the gods to her. Once the trance begins, the dancing becomes much more spontaneous and active.

Ancient stories tell us how these dances might have started. One famous tale involves the sun goddess, Amaterasu. She once hid inside a cave, which made the world dark and cold. To bring her out, a goddess named Ame-no-Uzume led a wild dance. This dance helped persuade Amaterasu to emerge and see the commotion. Kagura is said to come from this very event. Long ago, these dances were performed by special groups at the Imperial court. These performers were said to be descendants of Ame-no-Uzume herself.

Kagura has changed a lot over more than a thousand years.

In 1871, some officials tried to ban these dances because they thought they were not dignified. However, local groups worked hard to keep the traditions alive. Today, you can find many different styles across Japan. Some styles, like those from Izumo, are used to celebrate special days. Other styles use masks and drums to show magical power. For example, the Sada shrine dance is so special it is on a UNESCO heritage list.

These dances connect to many other parts of Japanese culture. Some forms of Kagura helped inspire the famous Noh theatre. You can see these influences in how stories are told through movement. Some dances even include lion dances or acrobatic feats.

In places like Shimane Prefecture or Hiroshima, the traditions stay very strong. Whether they are performed at a grand shrine or in a village, they keep old stories alive. They turn ancient legends into something people can see and feel today.

Kagura is a traditional form of Shinto ritual dance and music.

The name is a contraction of a phrase meaning "the presence of gods." This indicates that the practice is designed to involve deities. One primary function of Kagura is the process of shamanic possession. During this ritual, a female shaman performs to obtain an oracle from a god. In this setting, the dancer is believed to transform into the deity during the performance. This living tradition remains tied to the rhythms of the agricultural calendar. It is particularly active in Shimane Prefecture and urban centers like Hiroshima.

There are two major types of Kagura that represent different stages of a ritual. The first type is Mikura, which focuses on slow, circular movements. This style emphasizes quietness and elegance. Mikura serves as a preparation process to lead the dancer into a trance. The second type is Sukemokura, which is the unconscious trance stage. This style stresses activation and energy through quick leaping and jumping. During the Mikura phase, the shaman is often surrounded by a group of priests. She may hold a Gohei, which is a ceremonial wand used for purification. She also uses sound-producing instruments and circling movements to summon the deities.

Legendary stories provide a folktale origin for these sacred dances. The Nihongi, a historical chronicle, describes a tale involving the sun goddess Amaterasu. When Amaterasu retreated into a cave, the world became dark and cold. To fix this, Ame-no-Uzume, the goddess of the dawn and revelry, led a wild dance. This performance persuaded Amaterasu to emerge and see the commotion. Kagura is considered one of many rituals derived from this specific event. Originally, the practice was known as Mikura and was performed at the Imperial court. These performers were said to be descendants of Ame-no-Uzume.

The history of Kagura involves many shifts in social status. In 1871, Iwami Shinto offices attempted to ban theatrical performances by priests. They claimed these dances demeaned the dignity of the office. However, civilian performing groups worked to preserve the pieces. Over time, these rituals evolved into Mikura, which were popular ritual dances practiced in villages. These folk traditions developed into various forms, such as Ise-style and Izumo-style dances. Some versions became highly secularized folk traditions over the centuries.

Imperial Kagura is a specific sub-genre performed at the Imperial court and major shrines.

It includes welcoming and greeting deities with poetic or humorous songs. One notable part is the Mikura, a sacred vocal repertoire. This repertoire traditionally consists of 26 songs performed by a male choir over several days. In modern times, this has been reduced to 12 chants performed over six hours. Musicians use instruments like the Fue flute, the Koto zither, and various percussion. These formal rituals take place at the Imperial Sanctuary and during the Imperial harvest festival. Since approximately the year 1000, these events have occurred every year.

Folk Kagura, or Izumo-ryū, is a broad category containing many diverse dances. This category includes Miko Kagura, which are dances performed by shrine maidens. These dancers may use props like bells, bamboo canes, or paper streamers. Another form is Izumo-style, which includes rituals for purification and reenacting folktales. The sacred dance of the Sada shrine is so significant it was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011. Other forms include Yamabushi Kagura, which uses masks and drums to represent magical power. This specific style was also inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2009.

Kagura has deep connections to other Japanese art forms and social customs. The storytelling and reenactment aspects of Kagura were primary influences on Noh theatre. There are also unique regional variations like Shishi Kagura, a type of lion dance. In these performances, dancers wear masks to embody the spirit of a lion. Other traditions include rituals where priests splash hot water using bamboo leaves to purify people. During the Tokugawa shogunate, some Kagura-derived performances became major forms of urban entertainment in Edo. These included acrobatics and juggling, often performed under the name of Kagura. This shows how a sacred ritual can transform into a wide variety of cultural expressions.