UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MANOA OUTREACH COLLEGE
Community Services Division
The Sound of Ecstasy and Nectar of Enlightenment: Buddhist Ritual Song and Dance from Korea
Info: Thursday, October 8, 2009, 7:30 pm • Kennedy Theatre • ADVANCE TICKETS $15 - $25. Tickets also available at the door $20 - $30. • TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE, click on www.etickethawaii.com, visit any UH Ticket outlet (Kennedy Theatre, Stan Sheriff Center, Rainbowtique Downtown or at Ward Centre, UH Mānoa Campus Center ticket office, Windward Community College OCET office), or charge by phone 944-BOWS (-2697); service charges apply. Tickets on sale at Kennedy Theatre Box Office beginning Monday, Oct 5 (M-F, 10:30am - 12:30pm.) Advance sales end 4 hours and 30 minutes before the performance. Kennedy Theatre box office opens at 6:30 pm on evening of performance. For more information call 956-8246. •
Ancient chants, drum and cymbal dances, and the elegantly costumed "Butterfly Dance" from the sacred Young San Ceremony are offered in concert by Buddhist monks from Korea. Normally performed over the course of three days, the Young San Ceremony is the most elaborate of the Korean Buddhist rituals, involving offerings of flowers, fragrances, music and sacred dance in honor of the Lord Buddha. In the past, this ceremony was performed for the well-being of the nation both on joyful occasions and in times of disaster. Over the centuries, however, many ceremonial rituals fell into disuse due to the policy of suppressing Buddhism during the Choson Kingdom (1392-1910) and the restrictions against the performance of elaborate Buddhist ceremonies during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945). Fortunately, the complete ceremonial procedures were maintained and preserved by some Korean Buddhist monks, including the Venerable Song-am Park. The leader of the unique Young San Preservation Group is the Venerable Dong Hee, the first female to join the pomp`ae monks lineage. For nearly 40 years, beginning at age 13, she trained in the performance of the Young San Ceremony under the tutelage of the Venerable Song-am Park.
Under Venerable Dong Hee`s direction, the members of the group have mastered the sacred chanting or pomp`ae which traditionally was learned by ear and committed to memory. The group`s virtuoso vocal techniques are marked by a special timbre, complex patterns and a pure, solemn tone color. Linked intimately to the liturgy, like Gregorian chant, pomp`ae chant is intended to induce meditative calm and faciliate spiritual growth. The Young San Preservation Group`s singing will be accompanied by traditional Korean drums, cymbals and gongs as well as ritualized dance pieces known as chakpop, literally "Creating the Dharma." In the entire Buddhist world, the songs and dances of the Young San Ceremony are unique to Korea and were nominated in 1973 for preservation as an Intangible Cultural Asset.
Presented in association with The Korea Society, sponsored in part by the Halla Huhm Foundation, Center for Korean Studies, Korean American Foundation, with additional support provided by Mu-Ryang-Sa Buddhist Temple and University of Hawai`i at Mānoa`s Department of Theatre and Dance. Media sponsors The Korea Times Hawai`i and Radio Seoul. The Sound of Ecstasy and Nectar of Enlightenment is a University of Hawai`i at Mānoa Arts and Minds event.