Outline

Dance of the Right Chōbōraku

Chōbōraku (‘Long protection,’ after the year-period in which it was put together as a suite) is a slow Dance of the Right characterized by gentle movements, belonging to the category of hiramai (ordinary dances, also called bun-no-mai, civil or literary dances).

The chōbō of the title is an alternative reading for the name of the year-period Chōhō (999–1004), which is when two independent pieces were put together to form the dance suite: Hosorokuseri in the mode koma-ichikotsuchō (on E) became the ha movement, while Kariyasu in the mode koma-hyōjō (on F#) became the kyū. Both movements use the rhythm pattern koma-yohyōshi (cycles of 4 measures).

We know that both pieces existed before they were put together in this way, since their names are recorded in Kuchizusami, a primer compiled in 970 listing various types of cultural knowledge that a young courtier should memorize.

Structure of the Dance

The accompaniment for the dance as a whole is made up of four sections: 1. Ichōshi, a prelude in the mode koma-ichikotsuchō (on E); 2. Tōkyoku no ha, the ha movement of Chōbōraku; 3. Kariyasu no netori, a prelude in the mode koma-hyōjō (on F#); and 4. Tōkyoku no kyū, the kyū movement of Chōbōraku.

The Ichōshi, played by solo transverse flute komabue, solo reedpipe hichiriki, and hourglass drum san-no-tsuzumi, is followed by the ha movement. The dancers, four in number, come onto the stage one by one, and perform the fixed entrance pattern known as zurute. They then begin the dance itself. There is a modal prelude before the kyū movement, since it is in a different mode.

Costume

The dancers wear costumes of the ban’e-shozoku (‘barbarian-illustration’ costume) category, which have large round crests on the outer robe. The light blue outer robe (hō) is worn in katakatanugi style, with the robe off the right shoulder and tucked away, so as to reveal the brilliant red and white contrast of the sleeves of shitagasane. The dancers wear kanmuri headgear with ken’ei (rolled flap at rear) and oikake (fringed blinders at both sides).

Points for appreciation

This suite has been seen as a ‘secret’ piece of the repertoire of Dances of the Right, since it uses two modes within the one suite.

The use of a netori prelude before the Kyū movement is a characteristic of the piece, necessary because of the change in mode.

* Chōbōraku has the alternative name Han’ya-mai (‘Dance of Han’ya,’ of unknown significance).