Kumi Odori Analysis

From the literature, the reader will be able to know about a variety of things, history, culture and thinking way of people at that time. In this chapter, I focus on the thinking way about the woman through an Okinawan literature Kumi odori, an especially focus on “shu-shin kaniiri” (Possessed by Love, Thwarted by the Bell) and statue of woman from it.

First, we need to know about Kumi odori. Kumi odori is one of the Okinawan traditional performing arts. Kumi odori was created by Tamagusuku Chokun. Tamagusuku Chokun was born in 1684. Tamagusuku Chokun was a person has great artistic talent such as music, dance, and literary arts. His great talent was recognized by the government of Ryukyu Kingdom. Since when he was six-teen years old, He came

Next, we focus on a program of Kumi odori “Shu-shin kaniiri” (Possessed by Love, Thwarted by the Bell), because which is including in the book Living Spirit: Literature and Resurgence in Okinawa. First, we look at direction of Kumi odori. The entire story of the Kumi odori has some characters which including man and woman. However, it is the man to play all of the character on the stage. Why Okinawan traditional performing art Kumi odori was adopt this system. First, I wrote that “Kumi odori which created by Tamagusuku Chokun, takes in the style of Japanese traditional performing arts which is Noh and Kabuki, when he appreciate the performing these in Edo and Satsuma” in before paragraph. As you can see it, I guess Tamagusuku Chokun used the direction of Japanese traditional arts such as Noh and Kabuki for Kumi odori too. As another way of thinking is that a woman in the high position than a man, and a woman is a holy person. In fact, Okinawa has the place where is closed to men exists, for example, Sefha utaki. In addition, Okinawa has the Unai faith which is one of the Okinawan folk faith. According to Inafuku Keiko, It is the fact that Unaigami are regarded as existence that embodiment spiritual superiority as existence connecting the god and people. The Unai faith has Unaigami. Unaigami is like a goddess in the Okinawan folk faith, and all of Okinawan woman is it. It is unusual to see it in world history that

“Shu-shin Kaniiri” (Possessed by Love, Thwarted by the Bell) has been made into the stage in 1719 by Tamagusuku Chokun. The main characters of “Shu-shin Kaniiri” (Possessed by Love, Thwarted by the Bell) is the woman of a hotel, Wakamatsu who is very beautiful man and head priest of temple. The plot of “Shu-shin Kaniiri” (Possessed by Love, Thwarted by the Bell) developing in Dojuoji. One day, Wakamatsu comes to the woman of the hotel. Then, the woman of a hotel has fallen in love with Wakamatsu. The woman of a hotel is burning with emotion, but the woman of a hotel’s awakening of love was denied from Wakamatsu. After the woman of the hotel became despondent, the woman of a hotel transforms into a demon. The temple’s head priest persuaded the woman of a hotel in the dharma tic power. Then, a question comes up. The woman of a hotel transforms into a demon in “Shu-shin Kaniiri” (Possessed by Love, Thwarted by the