The poetic, narrative texts of nō (yōkyoku) have been enjoyed as literature, separate from performance, since at least as far back as the sixteenth century. The publication of texts as tales (Nara ehon), chant books (utaibon) and excerpts (koutaibon) helped popularize the genre. The well-wrought, finely nuanced scripts are greatly responsible for the enduring appeal and international interest in this dramatic art. Conventions that inform the composition of nō, the interrelation between text, movement, and music are discussed in the pages listed below.
- Current repertory
- Narratives
- Nobumitsu timeline
- Non-canonical plays
- Play structures
- Plays and Playwrights
- Repertory categorization
- Zeami
- Zeami’s plays
Contributor: Monica Bethe