Musician, Mimaji

[Mimaji]
Hello, everybody! Do you like music and dance? I believe that music and dance, both traditional and modern, enrich the lives of everybody. Let me introduce myself. I am Mimaji, the musician from Baekje.

I was sent to Japan during the 7th century to teach the traditional music and dance of Baekje, especially, a masked dance drama performed to honor Buddha and propagate Buddhism. I learnt it in China and spread my knowledge of the tradition to Japan. It was popularly performed in Japanese temples and is still handed down from generation to generation. Masks that were used in those days are also preserved in temples all over Japan, thus providing ample opportunities to learn about this traditional performance art.

Many musicians travelled to Japan ahead of me. The adventures of Gwisin in the 5th century are a good example of this phenomenon. Gwisin introduced stringed instruments to Japan and taught a famous player of the geomungo, a traditional Korean stringed instrument.

Do you know that five figurines of Baekje musicians decorate the top of the famous Baekje Gilt-bronze Incense Burner? Each of them is depicted playing a traditional Baekje musical instrument. You can see the artifact at the Buyeo National Museum.