also: ぞうげい
various performing arts; miscellaneous entertainments
Historical term for a collection of popular entertainments, including acrobatics, magic, puppetry, and early sarugaku. Often contrasted with formal court music and dance.
See also: 猿楽 (さるがく)
miscellaneous songs (Heian to Kamakura period)
Refers specifically to a genre of popular songs from the late Heian through Kamakura periods, distinct from the broader performing arts sense. Rarely used outside historical contexts.
See also: 歌謡
Medieval 雑芸 included acrobatics, magic, puppetry, and the like.
Sarugaku developed as one of the miscellaneous entertainments.
The term 雑芸 also refers to the popular songs from the late Heian to Kamakura period.
Standard kanji spelling for both senses. The reading ぞうげい is rare and archaic.
Rare historical reading; the kanji 雑芸 is normally read ざつげい in modern Japanese.
Compound of 雑 (miscellaneous) and 芸 (art, performance). The reading ぞうげい is an older Sino-Japanese reading; the exact historical derivation is uncertain.