For this post, I’d like to discuss the above painting that depicts a bunraku play entitled The woman's potted dwarf trees. The story of this play involves a traveling monk coming to the house of this impoverished couple. He is seeking shelter from the extreme cold outside in the blizzard. The husband turns him away because he does not want the monk to see how impoverished they are but the wife is able to convince him to let the monk stay the night. Eventually they run out of firewood and the couple decide to offer their beloved dwarf trees to the fire to keep themselves and the guest warm for the night. Their kindness is rewarded because the monk is actually a government official in disguise.
This painting shows the idea of world making that we discussed in class. The actors are able to put on the mask of their characters and become one with them. Because of this, they are able to create the world that is seen behind the actors. That world is not physically there but the actors, through becoming one with their characters, are able to make the world of the story for the audience. This painting shows that this is the case, which means that the actors are performing a religious art. They are able to give themselves up to a higher power to make a connection to the world of the story. By making this connection, they are able to create the world of the story, which is portrayed in the background of the painting.
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