Noh Costumes
Noh Costumes
- Magnificent Garments
Defining Each Character -
Noh costumes are called shozoku. The term, literally meaning “bundled garments,” denotes that several layers of garments are draped around the actor to form the costume.
In Noh, only a minimum of necessary items are placed symbolically on the stage. In contrast to the simplicity of the stage props, the noh costumes are lavish.
After the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568–1600), as the number of daimyo houses patronizing noh increased, they strove to commission the most magnificent and elaborate costumes possible.
- Some Important
Types of Costume - The decorative techniques used to make noh costumes are patterned weaving, embroidery, and stenciled gold foil. In making these costumes, the threads are dyed before being woven into fabric. Only a few costumes, like the matching bast-fiber suits known as hitatare and suo, use surface-dye techniques.
Woven
patterns
Surface
dyeing
Gold
brocade
Stenciled gold
or silver foil
Gossamer
fabrics
Hakama-style
pleated
trousers
Embroidery
- Kyogen Costumes
Witty and playful presentation
Costumes made specially for kyogen reflect a fun-loving playfulness that flips the sophisticated noh upside-down.
Kyogen
matched suit:
suo
Kyogen
pleated
trousers:
hakama
Kyogen vest:
kataginu
