The Arts of Japan

By Caileigh

 

The Samurai were not just skillful warriors, they had to understand and appreciate all kinds of art. Actually they really enjoyed reciting and composing poetry. In the 17th century a poet named Matsuo Basho developed a 17-syllable poem called a haiku.

 

Theater was also something they enjoyed. Throughout the 12th century, they attended plays known as the kabuki. Near the end of the Samurai period the theater of Noh was more suitable. Among both kinds of theaters, women's parts were played by boys.

 The Samurai really liked and appreciated calligraphy. Calligraphy was writing with a brush, ink and paper. Every character had to be written accurately. There were about 1,850 written characters that made up the Japanese language.

 

Japanese music started in the eighth century. Their most popular instruments are the lutelike, zitherlike, the three-string banjolike and the hichiriki. Western musics were also popular. The hichiriki is a tiny cylindrical double-reed wind instrument made of bamboo. It makes a loud nasal sound. From top to bottom it is 7 inches long. This seems easy to play but it is very difficult. To sum it all up, the Samurai are very artistic and talented people.

 

 

 

 

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