Noh PlayKUKAIKOYASAN- World

Heritage 20th Anniversary
Co-sponsored by Kongobuji Temple

蓮の花を見て自淨なるを知り蓮の実を見て心徳を覚る

Katayama Kuroemon
Mae-tsure Fudo Myoo Kanze Atsuo
Nochi-shite Kukai Kanze Tetsunojo
Noh Chorus Asai Fumiyoshi
Mae-shite Pilgrim

Sunday, September 15th, 2024, at 6:00pm

Outside Noh Stage in Kondo, Danjo Garan, Koyasan
Admission: Seat A ¥12,000 Seat B: ¥10,000 Ticket Office : Atelier Kashu Tel. 090-9676-3798

Kūkai’s Noh Drama“10,000 Lights 10,000 Flowers
Prayer Offering”

Noh Play

KUKAI“10,000 Lights 10,000 Flowers Prayer Offering”

The year 2024 heralds Koyasan’s 20thanniversary as a World Heritage site. It isregistered in the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage
Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. Kūkai
known posthumously as Kōbō Daishi,
founded Koyasan over 1200 years ago.

Mae-shite Pilgrim Katayama Kuroemon
Mae-tsure Fudo Myoo Kanze Atsuo
Nochi-shite Kukai Kanze Tetsunojo
Ai Nomura Taichiro
Flute Matsuda Hiroyuki
Small Drum Okura Genjiro
Large Drum Okura Keinosuke
Drum Kodera Masato
Keika Kasho, Jigashira Asai FumiyoshiNoh Chorus Urata Yasuchika

Kūkai’s profound esoteric teachings, passed
down to him by from Tang Priest Keika,
delve into all sentient beings possible
realization of full enlightenment. Thisphilosophy expressed through the intricate
symbolism of rituals, mandalas, and meditations, champions the ideals of peacefulcoexistence over exclusion.
The Prayers with 10,000 Lights and 10,000
Flowers Offering, a solemn ceremony
conducted at Kōyasan for the first time threeyears prior to Kūkai's deep meditative
sojourn awaiting the Future Buddha(Maitreya). It was aimed to guide allsentient beings towards the nirvanic realmof eternal peace and harmony.
In celebration of this landmark anniversary
and the profound spiritual heritage ofKōyasan, we extend a warm invitation to thepremiere of "Kūkai - Prayers for EternalPeace." This Noh play, a sublime artisticrendition,commemorates
Kōyasan'sesteemed recognition as a World Heritage
Site, inviting audiences to reflect on theuniversal quest for peace and coexistence.

Kitanami Takahiro
Asami Jiichi
Nagayama Keizo
Ando Takayasu
Backstage Wakebayashi Michiharu
Mikata ShizukaWriter/Director Kasai Kenichi
Story Introduction
In a picturesque town of Sanuki Tadotsu, birthplace of the revered Kōbō-Daishi Kūkai, a manlost his wife and child to an epidemic. He was deeply struck by the transient nature ofexistence and embarked on a pilgrimage of spiritual awakening. Following in the ascetic
footsteps of Kōbō Daishi, his journey takes him to the sacred grounds of Kōyasan, traversing
the spiritual paths of wild mountains and deep forests offering prayers to Fudō Myō’ō, anembodiment of his devout reverence.
In sincere reflection he contemplates Kūkai's quest for Buddhist wisdom, under the tutelage ofthe monk Keika at Blue Dragon Temple in Tang China. In his meditative dream, he sees
amidst the tempestuous seas, Kūkai armed with esoteric knowledge and a sacred talisman.
Kūkai invokes protection and guidance from the Fudo Myō’ō talisman he carved himself froma hallowed red bead tree, a gift from Keika. The narrative continues to unfold with a tapestryof miracles woven by Kūkai's profound faith, culminating in a celestial apparition of FudōMyō’ō before an assembly of devout pilgrims in Kōyasan.
After a long pilgrimage, he now stands in reverence, his spirit uplifted by the sanctity of the"10,000 Lights and 10,000 Flowers Prayers Offering" ceremony. Kūkai started this ceremony
to fulfil his vow to illuminate the path to enlightenment for all beings. Within the hallowed
walls of Kongōbuji temple, a venerable priest recounts the origin of this sacred ritual. Extolling
Kūkai's legacy, he leads a procession of lantern-bearing children through the darkness. As theresonant tones of shōmyō chanting fill the air, a vision of Kūkai manifests, performing aneternal mystical dance. It is a prayer transcending duality that invokes the wisdom of Maha
Vairocana to guide all beings towards the serene repose of enlightenment.

Sunday, September 15th, 2024, at 6:00PM
From 5:30pm, there will be a greeting by the chief priest of Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine as proofof the exchange between Koyasan and Kumano, and a performance by "Okukumano Daiko" and"Koya Wadaiko Warabe DONKAKA". A Noh performance will follow at 6:00pm.

Outside Noh Stage in Kondo, Danjo Garan, Koyasan
Danjogaran, 132 Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama 648-0211, JAPANSeating begins at 5:00pm
Performance 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Danjo Garan
Miedo

Konpondaito
Kondo

Special Noh stage
A special Noh stage will be set up in front of Kondo.

central gate
←DaimonPond
Kondo Mae

The performance will be held in light rain. If there is a storm, it will be held at the Matsushita Auditorium “Reimeikan” at theKoyasan University, a 7 minutes’ walk from the Danjo Garan. Please check the announcement on the Atelier Kashu website.

Admission: Seat A ¥12,000, Seat B ¥10,000
Ticket Office : Atelier Kashu Tel.090-9676-3798

Photo by Kaoru Suzuki

mail@atelierkashu.com https://www.atelierkashu.com
Cooperation: Kokoro no Terakoya Association

TicketWebsite