Feeling embraced by the spiritual soundscape - Symphony Kūkai

31 January 2026

Kūkai is such an outstanding figure among all the great Buddhist monks in Japanese history.

Having grown up in Japan where Buddhism is more familiar than Europe, whenever I come across the name of Kūkai, I cannot help thinking of another famous, equally admired and respected Buddhist monk who lived in almost the same era as Kūkai.

His name, Saichō, literally means the purist, which can be the most admirable and idealistic value to pursue as a Buddhist, but it can also make an individual suffer from its rigour and unattainability. On the other hand, the name of Kūkai is the combination of the sky and the sea. The manifestation of greatness, generosity, mysticism, are not the only traits of these natural entities. The sky and the sea also hold uncontrollable depth, instability, changeability, darkness, and even the potential of turmoil. That is Kūkai.

While Saichō also established the highest achievement on his own in terms of his holiness and excellence of his teaching, he comparatively struggled more in his life, experiencing conflict, politics and suppression, for which I personally resonate more with him as a human being (though I am definitely not the purist or a practicing Buddhist). Even so, I totally understand why people have been attracted to Kūkai, his charisma, genius, flexibility and prosperity - Kūkai lived his life to his max capacity. His glorious mindscape was his playground.

When I found out about this magnificent concert of Symphony Kūkai at the Southbank Centre, I had mentally been struggling. I was feeling mistreated, or treated disrespectfully. When I face something against my beliefs, ethics and principles, or when I am intentionally excluded from a process of a matter that should affect myself, my body and mind tend to become defensive. In the last several months, I have repeatedly been put into such situations, experiencing mental distress which has also ruined my free time.

Immersing myself into the majestic scale of musical grandeur of Symphony Kūkai created by a Chinese composer Zou Ye, I felt a little ‘healed’ and regained an energy to stay honest, try to live my life despite complications, find unity and inner peace. It was a spiritual empowerment received from Kūkai and his symphony.

Made of a prologue and six Movements, Symphony Kūkai traces the monk’s life in the wider context of the history of Buddhism and hope of humanity, past and future. It is the celebration not only of his life and spirit but also of the great Buddhist philosophy and human compassion, powerfully resonating from ancient times. As I was in a balcony seat, I had a bird’s eye view to be able to observe all the musicians and singers. Whenever each section of the orchestra takes part in turn - cellos, contrabasses, violins, the Japanese drum, the flute, human voices… - all communally weaving the beautifully composed music tapestry, it was like watching the dynamic changes of clouds or sea waves. The orchestra and choruses were also ‘Kūkai’.

The symphony proved a masterpiece - graceful, powerful, profound, spiritual, sacred, cosmic, visional, divine, uplifting, enlightening, insightful, inspirational. It brings us, even provisionally, to the Land of Vairocana, the radiant cosmos of the field of Buddha. As a ballet fan, I secretly wished that someone should create a ballet to this fantastic music… I felt especially emotional in the second Movement, at one of the famous episodes of Kūkai, in which Master Huiguo in Tang China was anticipating the visit of a then unknown Japanese monk, and trusted that the young foreigner should become the successor of his Esoteric Buddhism to spread the Dharma for all beings beyond boundaries.

Unlike Kūkai, who is believed to have entered the ‘eternal meditation’, we may not be able to go beyond being a mere human. Despite the beautiful idea of a boundless compassionate world, we may not be able to reach perfect wisdom during our lifetime. Still, through Symphony Kūkai, we can at least embrace our own mindscape in the great soundscape. It is a blessing with which we can move forward. I feel grateful.

Symphony Kūkai at the Southbank Centre, 30 January 2026

https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/symphony-kukai/

Prologue of Symphony Kūkai - European premiere on 17 August 2024