kabuki English · revision 1517

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1896}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈbuːkiː/ ''(UK)''; /kəˈbuːki/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|ja|kabuki]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) usually written with characters meaning “song”, “dance” and “skill”, [[m|ja|ka|t=song]], [[m|ja|bu|t=dance]] and [[m|ja|ki|t=art, skill]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023) but originally from the verb [[m|ja|kabuku|t=to deviate from normal manners and customs, do something absurd]].^(Etymonline)^(Evans 1997)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The popular Japanese drama (1896 in Etymonline; 1899 in the OED, Barnhart and Merriam-Webster).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ According to Evans, the first kabuki performance was given about 1603 by a shrine maiden of Kyoto named O-kuni, who “deviated from the normal customs” by dressing as a man and performing satirical dances.^(Etymonline)^(Evans 1997) Kabuki developed chiefly in the 17th century,^(RHWU) and today all roles, male and female, are played by men.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023) It differs both from the older, lyrical [[Noh]] drama and puppet plays.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) In recent use ''kabuki'' also means a stylized and often hollow performance, especially political posturing.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1603 – the first kabuki performance in Kyoto.^(Etymonline)^(Evans 1997)

+ * 1896 – in English (Etymonline).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1899 – first quotation in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A form of popular traditional Japanese [[drama]], evolved from the older [[Noh]], in which elaborately costumed male performers use stylized movements, dances and songs to enact tragedies and comedies.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A stylized and often hollow performance, especially political posturing.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Noh]]

+ * [[bunraku]]

+ * [[kimono]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}