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Have one dance and then die
‘Ippen Dancing and Dying’ is a story based on the life of the Kamakura-era monk Ippen and the dancing Nembutsu, written by Shirokura Eita.
Ippen, who is mentioned in ‘Kuya, Honen, Shinran, Ippen – the genealogy of Jodo thought’ and ‘Kaido yuku Shinshu Sakuhira-michi (Nagano)’, was a monk who founded the Toki-shu sect of Buddhism, which was based on the Jodo sect, which believed in Amida Buddha and that chanting the Amida Buddha would lead one to paradise. The Toki-shu is characterised by the chanting of ‘Namu Amida Butsu’ while dancing.
The Nichiren sect’s fan drum, which is different from the Jishu sect but is also mentioned in ‘Nichiren and Kuonji’, may be similar.
The novel depicts Ippen abandoning his family and possessions and travelling throughout Japan to spread his faith in Amida Buddha, and is particularly notable for his unique missionary style of ‘dancing Nembutsu’, in which the Nembutsu chanted in rhythm with the sound of feet pounding on floorboards and gongs, was an exciting and It is believed that this performance, a kind of religious entertainment, made a strong impression on the hearts of those who saw it.
The film shows how Ippen used the power of the Nembutsu to deal with people and how unprecedented yet sensitive his way of life was, which is brought to light through his passionate missionary work, as if it were a modern-day form of ‘rock’, highlighting his ideas and way of life.
The relationship between Nembutsu and rock music
Rock became a genre derived from rock ‘n’ roll from the 1960s onwards.
Its precursor, rock ‘n’ roll, is a musical genre that emerged in the USA in the 1950s and is a fusion of blues, rhythm and blues (R&B) and country music, as described in ‘History of blues and auto-generation with Clojure’. Typical artists include Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The music is characterised by its energetic, rhythmic tone, and has spread as a symbol of youth culture and rebellion, and has also become a symbol of social change.
The rock that emerged from this rock ‘n’ roll rule became one that included many more styles and expressions, pioneered by artists such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Rock had various sub-genres, such as psychedelic rock, hard rock, progressive rock and punk rock, which contained more profound and deeper themes and messages than rock ‘n’ roll.
Whereas rock ‘n’ roll was mainly about ‘youth freedom and rebellion’, rock deals with a more diverse range of themes and includes criticism of individuals, society and politics, as well as philosophical elements.
Although at first glance rock music and Buddhist prayer seem to be far apart, a connection can be found from several perspectives.
For example, the repetition of certain rhythms in Buddhist chanting has the effect of inducing a trance-like state in the chanters and listeners, a characteristic shared with the repetition of rhythms in rock and trance music. The repetitive beats of drums and bass, such as in rock, create a meditative and euphoric experience, and it can be argued that both nembutsu and rock music function as a means of ‘elevating the mind or accessing another dimension of consciousness’.
Furthermore, a number of rock music genres deal with religious and spiritual themes. As an example, religious and philosophical messages are often featured in progressive rock and psychedelic rock songs from the 1970s.
On the other hand, nenbutsu is also an act of chanting the Buddhist ideas at the heart of Pure Land beliefs, and both of these can be seen as means of connecting to a deeper spiritual world through music and voice.
In addition, as nembutsu is used to spread the teachings of the Pure Land faith, which are contained in the words ‘Namu Amidabutsu’, and rock music often expresses social issues and the inner conflicts of individuals, both rock music and nembutsu can be described as functioning as ‘means of message transmission’ with ‘strength of message’.
Nembutsu is originally often chanted in groups, creating a sense of communal unity, and similarly, at rock concerts and festivals, participants feel a sense of unity through the music, and these experiences can also be seen as creating a space for sharing a ‘collective uplift’ that transcends individual boundaries.
reference book
Describes reference books on the history and culture of rock music and the Nembutsu.
On rock music.
1. ‘The History of Rock’
This book provides a comprehensive account of the development and evolution of rock music, detailing the representative artists of each period and the characteristics of each genre. It is suitable for getting an overall picture of rock music, as you can also learn about the background of the music and artists.
2, The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll
The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll is a rock encyclopaedia compiled by Rolling Stone magazine. It contains detailed information on artists, bands, albums and songs, and provides a broad overview of rock history and culture. It is a classic book that is popular with rock fans and music researchers alike.
3. ‘The Beatles: The Biography’, Bob Spitz.
This biography of the Beatles follows in detail the background and achievements of the Beatles, who had a profound influence on the evolution of rock music. It provides a good understanding of how the Beatles’ music transformed rock and created new styles.
4. ‘Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk’ by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain.
This book describes the history of punk rock based on interviews with artists and people involved. It vividly describes the spirit and background of punk and how the musical style was formed, and is recommended reading for anyone interested in punk rock.
5. ‘No One Here Gets Out Alive’ by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugarman.
This biography of Jim Morrison and The Doors details the cultural context of psychedelic rock and the 1960s. Learn about Jim Morrison’s influence and his impact on the rock scene of the time.
6. ‘Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga’ by Stephen Davis.
A biography of Led Zeppelin, describing how the leading hard rock band transformed the sound of rock. It is a great book to learn about the roots of hard rock and heavy metal.
7. ‘Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991’, Michael Aslaid.
Focusing on the indie rock scene of the 1980s, this book covers underground bands such as REM and the Minutemen. It provides an understanding of the growth of alternative rock and the uniqueness of the American music scene.
8. ‘High Fidelity’ by Nick Hornby.
This novel depicts the daily life and feelings of a music fan, featuring a record shop owner who is obsessed with rock music. It contains the essence of a deeper understanding of the relationship between rock and listeners, and can be enjoyed as entertainment.
10. ‘The Sound of the City: the Rise of Rock and Roll’, Charlie Gillett.
This work discusses the origins and evolution of rock and roll in its musical and social context, and is a recommended read for those who want to return to the origins of rock and roll.
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