jo-ha-kyū; three-part rhythmic structure in traditional Japanese arts
A fundamental aesthetic principle in Noh, tea ceremony, music, and other traditional arts, describing a gradual acceleration from a slow opening (序), through a developing middle (破), to a rapid climax (急). Often used as a technical term.
In Noh theater, the jo-ha-kyū structure is emphasized.
The concept of jo-ha-kyū is also incorporated into the tea ceremony procedure.