Masabumi Kikuchi's Rokudai Series: Shingon Buddhist Philosophy Meets 1980s Japanese Keyboard Music
By
Stephan Kunze
Summary
This article explores Masabumi Kikuchi's Rokudai series of albums (1984-1987), which were inspired by the Shingon Buddhist concept of the Six Great Elements (earth, water, fire, wind, air/space, and mind/consciousness). The six albums, each named after one of these elements, were originally released on CD in 1988 and as a LaserDisc set in 1991, but had never been pressed to vinyl and had been largely overlooked. The piece examines the intersection of Buddhist philosophy and 1980s Japanese keyboard music, highlighting Kikuchi's unique artistic vision.
Source
bskyMasabumi Kikuchi's Rokudai Series: Shingon Buddhist Philosophy Meets 1980s Japanese Keyboard Musictricycle.orgKey quotes
· 3 pulledRokudai engi, or 'origination from the Six Great Elements,' is a foundational Shingon Buddhist concept—the belief that everything that exists in the universe is composed of the elements of earth, water, fire, wind, air (space), and mind (consciousness).
The six albums that make up Japanese keyboardist Masabumi Kíkuchi's Rokudai series, each one named after and dedicated to one of these elements, were recorded between 1984 and 1987.
Kíkuchi's recordings had never been pressed to vinyl and had gone largely overlooked until...
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