Study of Noh play in the Edo Era

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Noh actors in the Edo Era are roughly divided into four types. The first type consisted of the head masters (Iemoto) of "Yoza", who acted under the auspices of Tokugawa shogunate. ("Yoza" means four schools of Noh actors established in Yamato area in the Muromachi Era.) The second type consisted of disciples of "Yoza", who acted under the auspices of feudal lords. and these actors were vassals or employees of feudal lords. The third type consisted of amateurs, townspeoples or farmers, who were called"Ujiko". They played noh on the occasions of Shinto or Buddhist rituals. The fourth type consisted of professional Noh actors except the members of "Yoza", who were called "Tesarugaku". They belonged to small groups of Noh players, and played Noh on the street touring the provinces all the year round.Successive Tokugawa Shoguns, for example, Hidetada(the second Shogun), or Tsunayoshi (The fifth shogun), patronized one of the masters of "Yoza". Lots of feudal lords catered to Shogun's tastes, and hired the disciples of "Yoza" school as actors performing exclusively for them, and allowed their vassals to become the pupils of Noh actors. Besides, Tokugawa shogunate and feudal lords suppressed all the Noh actors except the members of "Yoza". As a result, in the second half of the Edo Era, Noh actors of fourth type became extinct, and all the Noh actors apprenticed themselves to the masters of "Yoza". And the "Iemoto" system was established completely in this era.