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==Origins==
==Origins==
Japanese dance, as we know it today, is an amalgamation of five original, seperate dance forms. Foremost amongst these is the ''kagura'' (<font size=3>神楽</font>), the ritualistic dancing and music associated with the [[Shinto]] faith, which still forms the basis of [[Shrine]] festivals (<font size=3>祭り</font> ''matsuri'') today.
Japanese dance, as we know it today, is an amalgamation of five original, separate dance forms. Foremost amongst these is the ''kagura'' (<font size=3>神楽</font>), the ritualistic dancing and music associated with the [[Shinto]] faith, which still forms the basis of [[Shrine]] festivals (<font size=3>祭り</font> ''matsuri'') today.
The earliest imported dance was a form of masked dance-drama called ''gagaku'', (<font size=3>雅楽</font> "Old Japanese court music"), which was bought to [[Japan]] from [[Korea]] in 612 A.D. This was later complimented by the addition of ''bugaku'' (<font size=3>舞楽</font>, "court dancing"), which came into the country from China during the 8<sup>th</sup> century. These formed the basis of the entertainment of the Imperial court and the nobility. Around the same time the ''dengaku'' (<font size=3>田楽</font> lit. "field dancing") and ''sarugaku'' (<font size=3>猿楽</font> lit. "monkey dancing") came into vogue as a form of entertainment amongst the Japanese farmer class. The former was derived from a fertility rite, normally performed in the fields before sowing the new crop and the latter was a circus-like performance, also imported from China.
The earliest imported dance was a form of masked dance-drama called ''gagaku'', (<font size=3>雅楽</font> "Old Japanese court music"), which was bought to [[Japan]] from [[Korea]] in 612 A.D. This was later complimented by the addition of ''bugaku'' (<font size=3>舞楽</font>, "court dancing"), which came into the country from China during the 8<sup>th</sup> century. These formed the basis of the entertainment of the Imperial court and the nobility. Around the same time the ''dengaku'' (<font size=3>田楽</font> lit. "field dancing") and ''sarugaku'' (<font size=3>猿楽</font> lit. "monkey dancing") came into vogue as a form of entertainment amongst the Japanese farmer class. The former was derived from a fertility rite, normally performed in the fields before sowing the new crop and the latter was a circus-like performance, also imported from China.