Appreciate
Dance of the Left Karyōbin at the Shōryō-e ceremony of the Osaka temple Shitennō-ji
Dancers: Members of Garyōkai, Tennō-ji Gakusho
Outline
Karyōbin (‘Kalavinka’) is a children’s Dance of the Left, never danced by adults.
According to legend, this dance was born in Tenjiku, the Japanese name for ancient India, during a ceremony at the temple of Jetavana. Seeing the dance of the Kalavinka birds of the Buddhist paradises that had gathered to worship the Buddha, the goddess of music Sarasvatī performed this piece, which was then transmitted by one of Buddha’s disciples, Ananda. The dance is said to have been transmitted to Japan by the Indian priest Bodhisena (?–760), who came to Japan in 736.
Although it was originally composed of all three movements of the ideal jo-ha-kyū form, only the kyū movement is danced now, while both ha and kyū movements can be played in kangen instrumental performances.
Structure of the Dance
The accompaniment for the dance as a whole is made up of two sections: 1. Rin’yū-ranjō; 2. Karyōbin no netori, a short modal prelude; and 3. Tōkyoku, the ‘piece itself,’ or Karyōbin no kyū.
The dancers enter one by one during the prelude Rin’yū-ranjō. They play small cymbals called dobyōshi as they make leaping entrances to their prescribed positions on the stage. The Tōkyoku has the metrical scheme haya-yahyōshi hyōshi-hachi, or eight cycles of eight 4/4 measures. Once the dance finishes, the dancers make their exits in turn as the others continue to leap around the stage.
Costume
The dancers of Karyōbin wear costumes unique to this dance, made in small sizes suitable for children.
The red outer robe (hō) of the costume is embroidered with Kalavinka birds, and a pair of wings is attached to each of the dancers’ backs. Around their lower legs they wrap chōsoku (lit. ‘bird legs’), leggings or gaiters with blue and white stripes. On their heads they wear a gold tenkan (crown) ornamented with artificial cherry blossoms. They hold a small pair of cymbals (dōbyōshi) in their hands, which they play as they dance. These symbolize the cry of the Kalavinka. As a rule, heavy white makeup is applied to the children’s faces.
Points for appreciation
This dance is impressive, above all, for the cuteness of the child dancers as they dance as the Kalavinka birds of the Buddhist paradises. The sound of the cymbals played by the dancers as they leap around the stage reinforces the light, bright atmosphere.
The movements of the dance are actually the same as those for the first section of the dance of Goshōraku no kyū, which is danced by adults. It is fascinating to observe the different effect that a difference in dancers can produce.
* Karyōbin is also called Fugenraku (‘No Words’) and Tori (‘Birds’).
