Description

Gagaku

© 1999, by Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency

Gagaku, characterized by long, slow songs and dance-like movements, is the oldest of the Japanese traditional performing arts. It is performed at banquets and ceremonies in the Imperial Palace and in theatres throughout the country, and encompasses three distinct arts. The first, Kuniburi no Utamai, features ancient Japanese songs, partial accompaniment by harp and flute and simple choreography. The second consists of instrumental music (especially wind instruments) and a ceremonial dance developed on the Asian continent and subsequently adapted by Japanese artists. The third, Utamono, is danced to vocal music whose texts include Japanese folk songs and Chinese poems. Influenced by the politics and culture of different periods over its long evolution, Gagaku continues to be transmitted to apprentices by masters in the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency, many of whom are the descendants of families with deep roots in the art. It is not only an important cultural tool in confirming Japanese identity and a crystallization of the history of Japanese society, but also a demonstration of how multiple cultural traditions can be fused into a unique heritage through constant recreation over time.

Documents

• Nomination form: English|French
• Consent of communities: Japanese/English

Decision 4.COM 13.50

The Committee (…) decides that [this element] satisfies the criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as follows:

• R.1: Gagaku has flourished for more than a millennium; its practitioners recognize it as their heritage confirming their identity and historical continuity, and readily pass it on to younger generations;
• R.2: Inscription of the element on the Representative List would raise awareness of the importance of the historical and cultural heritage and reinforce respect for cultural diversity;
• R.3: The Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency and its members are responsible for the preservation and transmission of Gagaku to future generations and have elaborated a number of safeguarding measures to that effect;
• R.4: The commitments of the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency to the safeguarding of the element and their participation in and consent to the nomination are clearly demonstrated;
• R.5: The element is inscribed as an Important Intangible Cultural Property on the national inventory maintained by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

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