“The mind must always be in the state of ‘flowing,’ for when it stops anywhere that means the flow is interrupted and it is this interruption that is injurious to the well-being of the mind. In the case of the swordsman, it means death. When the swordsman stands against his opponent, he is not to think of the opponent, nor of himself, nor of his enemy’s sword movements. He just stands there with his sword which, forgetful of all technique, is ready only to follow the dictates of the subconscious. The man has effaced himself as the wielder of the sword. When he strikes, it is not the man but the sword in the hand of the man’s subconscious that strikes.” – Takuan Sōhō, Zen Master
Mushin, a new short film collaboration between designer/film-maker Graham Wood and Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance, revolves around the concept of Japanese archery (Kyudo) and Noh theatre.
Noh theatre, often based on traditional literature, usually tells a tale of a heroic narrator; a supernatural being transformed into a human. Masks, costumes, and various props come together in dance-based performance; the actors emote through stylized conventional gestures, while the masks represent the roles such as ghosts, women, deities, and demons.
The term “Mushin” is a Zen expression, meaning “the mind without mind” and is also referred to as the state of “no-mindedness”. Mushin is achieved when a person’s mind is free from thoughts of anger, fear, or ego during combat or everyday life. That is, a mind not fixed or occupied by thought or emotion and thus open to everything. To give oneself completely to the shooting is the spiritual goal, achieved by the perfection of both the spirit and shooting technique leading to munen musō, “no thoughts, no illusions”.
The Archer in Mushin is portrayed by Yuya Akahoshi. The nine-minute film is a stunning, visually compelling masterpiece in meditation.
Listen to Dead Can Dance’s music for the film here or your preferred streaming service.
Dead Can Dance also have rescheduled their A CELEBRATION – LIFE & WORKS 1980 -2021 2021 October North American Tour for this autumn. Brendan Perry, Lisa Gerrard, and CO will kick things off at the San Diego Civic Theatre, with several California dates following in Los Angeles and San Francisco. They will make their way east via Denver, Chicago, Detroit, DC, Philadelphia, NYC, Boston, and Toronto, before heading back west to Vancouver and finishing in Seattle at the end of October. These are the first North American appearances Dead Can Dance will make since their 2013 tour in support of their eighth studio album Anastasis.
Tickets are on sale now here, and see full dates below:
Dead Can Dance Tour Dates:
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