Greeting from the President
Welcome to the official website of Tennōji Gakuso Garyōkai.
The "Tennōji Gakuso" is a Gagaku (Japanese court music) tradition group that dates back to the time when Prince Shōtoku ordered the use of foreign music, the predecessor of Gagaku, to honor the Three Treasures of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha). Since then, it has been associated with Shitennōji Temple, and its primary purpose has been to perform music and dance during the "Shōryō-e," the memorial service for Prince Shōtoku. As one of the three main Gagaku troupes in Japan, Tennōji Gakuso has played a significant role in preserving this tradition. Tennōji Gakuso is particularly known for the distinctive style of its "Bugaku" (court dance). Since it was performed outdoors and aimed at deepening the temple visitors' connection with Buddha, it has inherited a dynamic and clear dance style. However, the troupe has always maintained a refined quality, appealing even to the noble classes of the Heian period. Since the Meiji period, the tradition of Tennōji Bugaku has been preserved by private individuals, and in 1977, the "Bugaku of Shōryō-e" (Tennōji Bugaku) was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
This website not only provides information about the activities of the Tennōji Gakuso but also shares details about our successor training facility, the "Tennōji Gakuso Gagaku Training School," including application and curriculum details.
I sincerely hope this website will act as a portal to the rich traditions of Tennōji Gakuso.
Shinryū Ono
President and Representative Director of the Garyōkai General Incorporated Association
The "Tennōji Gakuso" is a Gagaku (Japanese court music) tradition group that dates back to the time when Prince Shōtoku ordered the use of foreign music, the predecessor of Gagaku, to honor the Three Treasures of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha). Since then, it has been associated with Shitennōji Temple, and its primary purpose has been to perform music and dance during the "Shōryō-e," the memorial service for Prince Shōtoku. As one of the three main Gagaku troupes in Japan, Tennōji Gakuso has played a significant role in preserving this tradition. Tennōji Gakuso is particularly known for the distinctive style of its "Bugaku" (court dance). Since it was performed outdoors and aimed at deepening the temple visitors' connection with Buddha, it has inherited a dynamic and clear dance style. However, the troupe has always maintained a refined quality, appealing even to the noble classes of the Heian period. Since the Meiji period, the tradition of Tennōji Bugaku has been preserved by private individuals, and in 1977, the "Bugaku of Shōryō-e" (Tennōji Bugaku) was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
This website not only provides information about the activities of the Tennōji Gakuso but also shares details about our successor training facility, the "Tennōji Gakuso Gagaku Training School," including application and curriculum details.
I sincerely hope this website will act as a portal to the rich traditions of Tennōji Gakuso.
Shinryū Ono
President and Representative Director of the Garyōkai General Incorporated Association
About Tennōji Gakuso Garyōkai
Tennōji Gakuso, based at Shitennōji Temple, is one of the three major Gagaku troupes that have carried the tradition of Japanese court music since the Heian period, alongside Ōuchi Gakuso in Kyoto and Nanto Gakuso in Nara. Known for its exceptional skill and distinctive style of Bugaku, Tennōji Gakuso has been admired by the noble classes since the Heian period. Yoshida Kenkō even praised it in "Tsurezuregusa" (Essays in Idleness) for not being overshadowed by the imperial court’s own music traditions.
During the Meiji Restoration, musicians from the troupes were summoned to Tokyo when the Emperor relocated the capital, which lead to the temporary dissolution of the three major Gakuso troupes. Tennōji Bugaku faced the risk of disappearing, but a group of private citizens, concerned for the future of the tradition, established the Garyōkai Association in 1884 to preserve the tradition of the Shōryō-e ceremony. In 1893, under the leadership of the first president, Ono Shōin (chief priest of Gansenji Temple), Garyōkai formalized its rules and solidified its foundation as the troupe responsible for preserving the Tennōji Bugaku. Today, Tennōji Gakuso Garyōkai continues to preserve the rich history of the troupe with the endorsement of Shitennōji Temple, allowing it to use the name "Tennōji Gakuso" during performances.
As of January 2024, the organization became a legally incorporated entity, further solidifying its commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage as the Garyōkai General Incorporated Association. Currently, it is allowed by Shitennōji to use the name "Tennōji Gakuso" and the troupe is known as "Tennōji Gakuso Garyōkai," showcasing Tennōji Bugaku throughout Japan. In addition to traditional performances at Shitennōji, such as the Shōryō-e ceremony, Tennōji Gakuso regularly performs at other significant sites like Sumiyoshi Taisha and Itsukushima Shrine, and hold annual performances at Osaka Festival Hall among other major venues. Internationally, Tennōji Gakuso has performed at Carnegie Hall in the U.S., across Europe, New Zealand, Korea, China, and even for the Czech president.
Over the years, Tennōji Gakuso Garyōkai has been honored with numerous awards, including the Osaka Prefecture Citizen’s Theater Encouragement Award (1958), the Osaka Cultural Festival Award (1966), Osaka Prefecture Theater Award (1977), Osaka Governor's Commendation (1985, 1987), Japan's Minister of Education Commendation (1987), and the Pola Foundation Traditional Culture Award (2020).
The first president, Ono Shōin, was honored with the title "Outstanding Traditional Performing Artist", while the first head of Tennōji Gakuso, Ono Setsuryū, won the Osaka Culture Award. Kōryū Ono, the second head of Garyōkai and also its chairman, received the Japan Art Academy Award and the Imperial Prize in 2014.
During the Meiji Restoration, musicians from the troupes were summoned to Tokyo when the Emperor relocated the capital, which lead to the temporary dissolution of the three major Gakuso troupes. Tennōji Bugaku faced the risk of disappearing, but a group of private citizens, concerned for the future of the tradition, established the Garyōkai Association in 1884 to preserve the tradition of the Shōryō-e ceremony. In 1893, under the leadership of the first president, Ono Shōin (chief priest of Gansenji Temple), Garyōkai formalized its rules and solidified its foundation as the troupe responsible for preserving the Tennōji Bugaku. Today, Tennōji Gakuso Garyōkai continues to preserve the rich history of the troupe with the endorsement of Shitennōji Temple, allowing it to use the name "Tennōji Gakuso" during performances.
As of January 2024, the organization became a legally incorporated entity, further solidifying its commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage as the Garyōkai General Incorporated Association. Currently, it is allowed by Shitennōji to use the name "Tennōji Gakuso" and the troupe is known as "Tennōji Gakuso Garyōkai," showcasing Tennōji Bugaku throughout Japan. In addition to traditional performances at Shitennōji, such as the Shōryō-e ceremony, Tennōji Gakuso regularly performs at other significant sites like Sumiyoshi Taisha and Itsukushima Shrine, and hold annual performances at Osaka Festival Hall among other major venues. Internationally, Tennōji Gakuso has performed at Carnegie Hall in the U.S., across Europe, New Zealand, Korea, China, and even for the Czech president.
Over the years, Tennōji Gakuso Garyōkai has been honored with numerous awards, including the Osaka Prefecture Citizen’s Theater Encouragement Award (1958), the Osaka Cultural Festival Award (1966), Osaka Prefecture Theater Award (1977), Osaka Governor's Commendation (1985, 1987), Japan's Minister of Education Commendation (1987), and the Pola Foundation Traditional Culture Award (2020).
The first president, Ono Shōin, was honored with the title "Outstanding Traditional Performing Artist", while the first head of Tennōji Gakuso, Ono Setsuryū, won the Osaka Culture Award. Kōryū Ono, the second head of Garyōkai and also its chairman, received the Japan Art Academy Award and the Imperial Prize in 2014.
The Bugaku of the Shōryō-e Ceremony
"Shōryō-e Bugaku", designated as an Important Intangible Folklore Cultural Property (based on the database of Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs)
https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp
Preserved by: Tennōji Bugaku Association.
The Shōryō-e is a memorial service held in honor of the spirit of Prince Shōtoku, performed annually at Shitennōji Temple in Osaka on April 22. This ceremony retains the appearance of a musical ritual from the Heian period, with the traditional Bugaku performed on the stone stage in front of the Rokujidō Hall. The stage is decorated with large red paper flowers in the shape of spider lilies at its four corners.
During the ceremony, various Bugaku dances such as Enbu, Soriko, Posatsu, Shishi, Karyōbin, and Kochō are performed, interwoven with ritual elements like the Sōrai-kada and Shika-hōe ceremonies. Shitennōji Temple, being one of the three major Gagaku institutions in Japan, has preserved this rich tradition of Bugaku since ancient times, and even after the merging of Gagaku institutions into the Imperial Household Music Department in the early Meiji period, the temple has continued to uphold and pass on this cultural heritage to the present day.
https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp
Preserved by: Tennōji Bugaku Association.
The Shōryō-e is a memorial service held in honor of the spirit of Prince Shōtoku, performed annually at Shitennōji Temple in Osaka on April 22. This ceremony retains the appearance of a musical ritual from the Heian period, with the traditional Bugaku performed on the stone stage in front of the Rokujidō Hall. The stage is decorated with large red paper flowers in the shape of spider lilies at its four corners.
During the ceremony, various Bugaku dances such as Enbu, Soriko, Posatsu, Shishi, Karyōbin, and Kochō are performed, interwoven with ritual elements like the Sōrai-kada and Shika-hōe ceremonies. Shitennōji Temple, being one of the three major Gagaku institutions in Japan, has preserved this rich tradition of Bugaku since ancient times, and even after the merging of Gagaku institutions into the Imperial Household Music Department in the early Meiji period, the temple has continued to uphold and pass on this cultural heritage to the present day.
