also: じょがく
music performed by women
General term for music played by women, often in historical or traditional contexts.
In the Heian-period court, music performed by women was popular.
female court musicians and dancers
Only with reading じょがく
Specifically refers to women who performed Bugaku (court music and dance) in historical Japanese courts. Restricted to reading じょがく.
女楽 refers to the women who performed gagaku music and dance.