Ukiyo by John Psathas

Zen monks and haiku poets spoke of life in terms of a transient ‘floating world’ (ukiyo), or of a dream that vanishes. In the traditional Buddhist view, our corporeal existence is one in which happening gives way to happening, illusion follows illusion, and all is nothing but a phantasm void of substance.

 Tsukikage o

 katte ima iku

 juman-ri

 I borrow moonlight

 for this journey of a

 million miles

(Written by Haiku poet Saikaku on the verge of his death – the eighth day of the eighth month, 1730 – at the age of seventy.)

This work for percussion duo calls for the use of two CD players which the performers are required to operate and synchronise with the music at particular points.