Noh and Kyogen Rare Materials Digital Collections

Noh Chant Books

Utaibon, or chant books, are a type of book focused solely on indicating chanting instructions, with no stage directions or dance choreography. Syllables are indicated by dots (sometimes called “sesame” dots), and detailed chanting instructions or musical notations, such as rhythm and pitch, are marked on the right side of the lines. As professional noh actors started to give lessons to aristocrats, warriors, and townspeople, practicing noh chant became one way of appreciating noh while serving as proof of training and personal accomplishment. In earlier days, amateur connoisseurs had to collect hand-copied manuscripts of utaibon, but the introduction of woodblock printing and movable type made mass production possible in later years. Kōetsu utaibon show that the utaibon publishing culture matured so far as to produce a series of books aesthetically appealing to collectors, while their practical purpose is rather diminished. Utaibon with reasonable prices were also printed and widely circulated, again indicating how familiar people had become with regular noh chanting. Today, utaibon continue to be published for both professional performers and amateurs under the authorization of the heads (iemoto) of the noh schools.

  • image:NK00014
    Title:
    Utaibon attributed to Kanze Kojirō Nobumitsu
    Title (jp):
    Den Kanze Kojirō Nobumitsu hitsu utaibon  伝観世小次郎信光筆謡本
    Description:
    13 x 19cm (chūhon), fukurotoji binding. The books are attributed to Kanze Kojirō Nobumitsu (1450-1516), a playwright and a drum player of the Kanze troupe, based on the colophon by Kanze Shigenori signed in 1713 (Shōtoku 3). Although its attribution to Nobumistu remains doubtful today, the collection includes 100 plays, which are rare to see as extant materials from the Sengoku period (late 15th-late 16th century). The motifs and landscapes linked to each story are painted with gold on the covers. Former collection of the Date Family.
    Collection name:
    Noh Theatre Research Institute
    Volume:
    100
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  • image:NL19
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Taema, Hyakuman)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Taema, Hyakuman)  金春禅鳳自筆本　当摩・百万
    Description:
    19.7 x 13.6 cm, fukurotoji binding. Written by Konparu Zenpō (1454-?), a grandson of Konparu Zenchiku (1405-1470?) and also famous as a playwright. The book records the chanting instructions of the plays Hyakuman and Taema. Formerly owned by Shimotsuma Shōshin.
    Collection name:
    Noh Theatre Research Institute
    Volume:
    1
  • image:NL2143
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Yoshino Shizuka, Sumidagawa, Jinen koji, Dōjōji, Hōkazō)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Yoshino Shizuka, Sumidagawa, Jinen koji, Dōjōji, Hōkazō)  金春禅鳳自筆本　吉野静・隅田川・自然居士・道成寺・放下僧
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Noh Theatre Research Institute
    Volume:
    5
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  • image:ZU_001
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Yōkihi)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Yōkihi)  金春禅鳳自筆本　楊貴妃
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hosei University Kōzan Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_002
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Yuya)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Yuya)  金春禅鳳自筆本　遊屋
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hosei University Kōzan Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_003
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Miwa)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Miwa)  金春禅鳳自筆本　三輪
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hosei University Kōzan Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_004
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Gendayū)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Gendayū)  金春禅鳳自筆本　源太夫
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hosei University Kōzan Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_005
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Tadanori)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Tadanori)  金春禅鳳自筆本　忠度
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_006
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Sanemori)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Sanemori)  金春禅鳳自筆本　実盛
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_007
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Miwa)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Miwa)  金春禅鳳自筆本　三輪
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_008
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Teika)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Teika)  金春禅鳳自筆本　定家
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_009
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Taema)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Taema)  金春禅鳳自筆本　当麻
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_010
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Tōbōsaku)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Tōbōsaku)  金春禅鳳自筆本　東方朔
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_011
    Title:
    Noh chant books by Konparu Zenpō (Kantan)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon (Kantan)  金春禅鳳自筆本　邯鄲
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:US_001
    Title:
    Noh chant book copied from Konparu Zenpo's manuscript (Ikarikazuki)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon tenshabon (Ikarikazuki)  金春禅鳳自筆本転写本　碇潜
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:ZU_012
    Title:
    Noh chant book copied from Konparu Zenpo's manuscript (Inori section from Ningyō)
    Title (jp):
    Konparu Zenpō jihitsubon tenshabon (Ningyō no inori)  金春禅鳳自筆本転写本　人形之祈
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hannyakutsu Collection
    Volume:
    1
  • image:KT
    Title:
    Kōetsu chant book, "tokusei bon"
    Title (jp):
    Kōetsu utaibon tokuseibon  光悦謡本(特製本)
    Description:
    ––
    Collection name:
    Hosei University Kōzan Collection
    Volume:
    100
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