The video below is just amazing. It's performed by 21 deaf and mute girls and boys from China's Disabled Peoples Performing Art Troupe and is called "Thousand-hand Guanyin" or thousand-hand Bodhisattva dance.
Guanyin, in Chinese Buddhism and Daoism, is the Goddess of Mercy, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Her full name, Guanshiyin Pusa, means "bodhisattva who observes the sounds of the world"
As long as you are kind and there is love in your heart A thousand hands will naturally come to your aid As long as you are kind and there is love in your heart You will reach out with a thousand hands to help others .Guan Yin is the bodhisattva of compassion, revered by Buddhists as the Goddess of Mercy. Her name is short for Guan Shi Yin. Guan means to observe, watch, or monitor; Shi means the world; Yin means sounds, specifically sounds of those who suffer. Thus, Guan Yin is a compassionate being who watches for, and responds to, the people in the world who cry out for help.
(these dancers rely only on signals from trainers at the four corners of the stage)
Read about the man responsible for this production - Zhang Jigang.
He is an internationally acclaimed Chinese choreographer and a Lieutenant General in the People's Liberation Army. He was the former director of the Song and Dance Ensemble with the People's Liberation Army before promotion in 2006. Zhang Jigang now holds the highest non-combat military officer rank in China.
On August 8th 2008, Zhang Jigang co-directed and choreographed the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Beijing, China.[2] Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the XXIX Olympiad, called the ceremony "a grand, unprecedented success."[3] The AFP called it "a spectacular opening ceremony."[4] The BBC and The Times concurred by calling it a dazzling and spectacular show in Beijing.[5][6]
Zhang Jigang's most famous and influential production was the thousand hand dance. The piece features 21 hearing impaired dancers who form remarkable arm and hand positions by standing behind each other in a perfect column. Breathtaking images are created as the dancers produce perfectly timed and choreographed movements. The show quickly became a national treasure and overwhelming domestic success. It was first performed internationally at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C. in front of former President of the United States Bill Clinton, senior White House staff and spectators. It generated rave reviews and was showcased shortly thereafter around the world in countries including Australia, Japan, North Korea, Egypt, Turkey and Italy. In 2004 it was performed at the Closing Ceremonies for the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece (see it here) and Miss World 2004 pageant held in Sanya, China[7]. The primary filmed version was captured in 2005 at the Spring Festival in China on CCTV. It subsequently spread across the internet on such sites as Google Video and YouTube (see it here). It is widely estimated that hundreds of millions of Chinese and international viewers around the world have viewed the videos online.
So, what is Bodhisattva?
In Tibetan Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is anyone who is motivated by compassion and seeks enlightenment not only for him/herself but also for everyone...
It was also the title of a tune released in 1973 by Steely Dan -- BODHISATTVA, would you take me by the hand
(Ever wonder what that song meant?)
As with most songs, there are many interpretations
The following video is the same thousand-hand bodhisattva dance as above, but this youtube user, VickyBurns2, has changed the background music.
BRILLIANT!! It works so unbelievably well
The Star Maker Machine music blog happens to have this song featured this week. Great write-up.
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