内容简介
Five Modem Noh Plays brilliantly revives a great art form thathas long fasci-nated audiences and readers throughout the world. Inhis introduction, Donald Keene calls these the first genuinelysuccessful modern Noh plays and adds, "If the medium is given a newlease on life it will be because of Mishima and his work."
As long ago as 1916 William Butler Yeats and Ezra Pound wereexcitedly dis- covering Noh plays. In 1922 Arthur Waley's finetranslations appeared in a col- lection titled The Noh Plays ofjapan. Since then, interest has grown steadily in this unique artform.
At the heart of Noh lies the accidental encounter through whichthe workings of Fate are revealed. Often one of the persons is notwhat he or she seems to be: perhaps a ghost or a person fallen fromhigh estate. Mishima has been mar- velously successful inpreserving the weird and haunting mood of classical Noh, but hischaracters and situations have the directness and hardness of anencounter on a city street.
As long ago as 1916 William Butler Yeats and Ezra Pound wereexcitedly dis- covering Noh plays. In 1922 Arthur Waley's finetranslations appeared in a col- lection titled The Noh Plays ofjapan. Since then, interest has grown steadily in this unique artform.
At the heart of Noh lies the accidental encounter through whichthe workings of Fate are revealed. Often one of the persons is notwhat he or she seems to be: perhaps a ghost or a person fallen fromhigh estate. Mishima has been mar- velously successful inpreserving the weird and haunting mood of classical Noh, but hischaracters and situations have the directness and hardness of anencounter on a city street.