Zen Musicals Propose poem to the nature

The mountain and water of Shaolin perform the meaning of Zen; the integration of Zen and marital art embodies the spirit of Songshan Mountain. The above words describe the large-scale live-action performance of Zen Musicals on the Shaoshi Mountain. A long time ago I was told that it is a large-scale outdoor performance with musician Tan Dun as the art director, Huang Doudou as the dance designer, Yi Zhongtian as the Zen consultant. The powerful staff formation and natural live-action stage of Songshan Mountain, with the combination of Zen music and every sound of the nature, compose the Zen rhyme. I’ve been longing for it and fortunately I made it the day before yesterday.
Our car drove out of Dengfeng City at about 7:00pm and slowly went towards Shaoshi Mountain along the winding road lamps. I rolled down the window and was greeted with refreshing mountain breeze which blew away the faint annoyance in my mind. There’re large pieces of orchards on both sides of the road with looming peaches on the treetop. I can see stars shining in the sky through my car window and I feel like going back to my childhood, in my grandma’s courtyard, with such bright stars and refreshing breeze.
After I entered the performance yard, I was surprised that all the audience seats were rush cushions for meditation. So they were called “meditation seat”. I have to admire the unique ingenuity of the creator. The seats were made in the shape of winding corridors and temples. People crossed their legs and sat on them. Buddhist music mingled with striking sounds of wooden knockers floated into your ears and touched your hearts.
The whole performance designed in accordance with Tan Dun’s music were divided into five parts: water, wood, wind, light and rock which embodied the celebration to the nature and the ultimate concern to life itself. The performance yard located against various peaks of Shaoshi Mountain and among the luxuriant green pine forestry with brooks, ponds, arch bridges, huge rocks, platforms, pavilions, buildings and towers which made up a live ink landscape painting or even a three-dimensional landscape gallery.
The performance began. An ancient and charming bell sound indicated the beginning of the performance. Five monks in yellow frock were sitting on sparkling “stones” for meditation. A friend who has watched the performance told me that all these monks had to sit there from the beginning to the end, without even a move. On hearing this, I blushed with shame. Because my leg became numb only after a little while. I really admired their peaceful mind, scripture recitation and stubborn thought.
Sometimes there’re mountain girls walking down the mountain and sometimes woodcutters carrying returns. A flock of sheep walked out of the winding path in the forest along with the crisp whip sound and a beautiful shepherdess followed along the river. Suddenly, a group of young monks appeared from the mountain gate with sharp-bottomed buckets in their hands. A group of beautiful girls in colorful clothes played under the bridge. In the river, there’re young monks carrying water, by the river, village girls were doing some washing. Some young girls were singing melodious “modern folk songs”with their feet on buckets. Under the bridge, a little monk carried a wounded village girl. Then he made a bow with hands folded in front and he was not tempted by secular love. Little stories went through the performance one by one. During the whole performance, music of the movie“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” can be heard and reflection of the movie“Hero”can be seen from time to time. Roof climbing and wall walking of warrior monks and the appearance of artificial moon made the audience screaming. Zen music continually created the lasting appeal on the audience. While a “Flower Water”played with four Chengs (a 21-or 25-stringed plucked instrument) was even more intense and enthusiasm arousing. Together with the background of pagoda forest, temple, wooden pagoda and Buddha figures, a primitive scenic picture appeared.
After the performance was over, many people were still immersed in the visual and auditory shocks, as if the clanging drum sound were still surging the mountain ridge, the deep and primitive music still around your ears and the loquacious brooks passing through the space and went into your heart.
The Bible says: what can be seen is temporary, what cannot be seen is forever. The splendid cultural feast enables me to see something beyond the scenery and makes me feel detached and tranquil in confused life.