sangaku; ancient Chinese-style entertainment
Historical term for a form of entertainment imported from China during the Nara period, featuring acrobatics, juggling, and other circus-like acts. Later influenced the development of 猿楽 (sarugaku).
See also: 猿楽
Sangaku is a performing art that was introduced to Japan from China during the Nara period.
The acrobatics of sangaku influenced later sarugaku and noh theater.