The performing art now known as nogaku was established during the Muromachi period by Kanami, Zeami, Onami and Zenchiku KONPARU, and during the Shokuho period, the so-called Yamato-yoza, consisting of Kanze-za, Hosyo-za, Konparu-za and Kongo-za, held a dominant position as a performing group which specialized in sarugaku (comical mimicry and speech performance), except for Kurokawa Noh.
現在、能楽と呼ばれる芸能は、室町時代に観阿弥、世阿弥、音阿弥、金春禅竹らによって大成され、織豊期に観世座、宝生座、金春座、金剛座のいわゆる大和四座が、専ら猿楽を上演する芸能集団として、黒川能などの例外を除くと寡占的な地位を占めるに至った。