There are various ways to classify the Kabuki repertoire. The classification here uses 2 representative sections.

Jidaimono means the Kabuki works describing the world of samurai and kuge (court nobles) in periods earlier than the Edo period, including works such as "Kanadehon chushingura" based on incidents that occurred in the Edo period, but were rewritten as if they occurred before the Edo period. This alteration of historical era was made because the Tokugawa Shognate prohibited the dramatization of historical acts that occurred in and after the late Sengoku period (the age of civil wars in old Japan).
Kabuki works based on stories from the Heian period or earlier are called Ochomono or Odaimono (tales of royalty/tales of the imperial era) .

Sewamono are Kabuki works based on the lives of tradesmen in the Edo period. These were the modern plays of that era. Works focusing on the lives of common people of low social position are called Kizewa. The Kizewa works by Tsuruya Namboku 4th who was active in the Bunka/Bunsei period [1804 - 1830] are famous.

Shosagoto means Buyo (Kabuki dance). At first, Shosagoto were considered to be the speciality of Onnagata, but from the latter half of the 18th century, tachiyaku also started to dance. Later, in the Bunka/Bunsei period, works called Hengebuyo (transformation dances) in which a single actor alone portrays multiple different characters became popular.
Shosagoto can be classified by subject into groups of works such as Shishimono, Matsubamemono and Dojojimono.

Gidayu-kyogen are also called Maruhonmono, meaning works which were initially performed in Ningyo-joruri (puppet play) and later dramatized for Kabuki. The story is advanced by the reciting of Takemoto (narrative recitation and music). Much of the action, production techniques and movements are stylized and are synchronized with the narration and musical accompaniment.

Jun-kabuki means "pure Kabuki," plays originally written for Kabuki, in contrast to Gidayu-kyogen. Works by writers specializing exclusively in Kabuki, called Kyogen-sakusha, such as Tsuruya Namboku 4th and Kawatake Mokuami, are included in the Jun-kabuki category.