Gagaku (雅楽, literally "elegant enjoyment") is a type of Japanese classical music that has been performed at the Imperial court for several centuries. It consists of three primary bodies: native Shintoist religious music and folk songs, saibara, as well as a Korean form, komagaku, and a Chinese form, togaku. By the 7th century, the gakuso (a zither) and the gakubiwa (a short-necked lute) had been introduced in Japan from China. Various instruments including these three were the earliest used to play gagaku. For many outsiders, Japanese music is associated entirely with cheap, disposable bubblegum pop, of which there is plenty. ... Shintō (Japanese: 神道) is the native religion of Japan. ... Religious music (also sacred music) is music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence. ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the people. ... // Events Islam starts in Arabia, the Quran is written, and Syria, Iraq, Persia, North Africa and Central Asia convert to Islam. ... A Musima Guitar Zither 45 strings with 21 melody, 24 chords The zither is a musical string instrument, mainly used in folk music. ... The lute is a plucked string instrument with a fretted neck and a deep round back. ...

Komagaku and togaku arrived in Japan during the Nara period (710-794), and settled into the basic modern divisions during the Heian period (794-1185). Gagaku performances were played by musicians who belonged to hereditary guilds. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), military rule was imposed and gagaku was performed in the homes of the aristocracy, but rarely at court. At this time, there were three guilds based out of Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. The Nara period (奈良時代) of the History of Japan covers the years from about AD 710 to 794. ... Events End of the Asuka period, the second and last part of the Yamato period and beginning of the Nara period in Japan. ... Events Kyoto becomes the Japanese capital. ... The name Heian may mean: The Heian Period, an era of Japanese history. ... Events Kyoto becomes the Japanese capital. ... Events April 25 - Genpei War - Sea Battle of Dan-no-ura leads to Minamoto victory in Japan Templars settle in London and begin the building of New Temple Church End of the Heian Period and beginning of the Kamakura period in Japan. ... History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Kamakura period 1185 to 1333 is a period... Events April 25 - Genpei War - Sea Battle of Dan-no-ura leads to Minamoto victory in Japan Templars settle in London and begin the building of New Temple Church End of the Heian Period and beginning of the Kamakura period in Japan. ... Events End of the Kamakura period and beginning of the Kemmu restoration in Japan. ... Osaka Castle (Ōsaka-jō) Location in Japan Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan) Osaka railway station The Osaka Tower (Tsūtenkaku) Azumanga Daioh. ... Nara (Japanese: 奈良市, Nara-shi) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan, near Kyoto. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ...

Because of the Onin War (応仁の乱 Ōnin no ran) which was a civil war from 1467 to 1477 during the Muromachi period, gagaku in ensemble had been stopped playing in Kyoto for about 100 years. In Edo era, Tokugawa government re-organized the court style ensemble which is the direct roots of the present one. Marker at location of outbreak of Onin War The Onin War (応仁の乱 Ōnin no ran) was a civil war from 1467 to 1477 during the Muromachi period in Japan. ...

After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, musicians from all three guilds came to Tokyo and their descendants make up most of the current Imperial Palace Music Department. By this time, the present ensemble style which consists of three wind instruments i.e. hichiriki, ryuteki and sho (instrument made with bamboo pipes which make harmony) and three percussions i.e. kakko (small drum), shoko (metal percussion) and taiko (drum) or dadaiko (huge drum) supplemented by gakubiwa, gakuso had been established. The Meiji Restoration (明治維新; Meiji Ishin), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to a change in Japans political and social structure. ... 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The modern skyline of Tokyo is highly decentralized. ... The hichiriki (Japanese: 篳篥) is a double reed instrument of Japanese gagaku music. ... The Ryūteki (龍笛) is a type of Japanese flute made of bamboo. ... Taiko drummers in Aichi, Japan The word taiko (太鼓) means simply great drum in Japanese. ...

Related to gagaku is theater, which developed in parallel. Noh was developed in the 14th century. Noh performance at Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima Noh or No (Japanese: 能, nō) is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. ... (13th century - 14th century - 15th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. ...

External link

• Gagaku Japanese Court Music & Dance