The Fate of Kibi’s GO

CHARACTERS:

Prince Shotoku

Kibi, A Japanese Minister

Pin Lo, Chinese Priest

Shin Ti Kou, Chinese Poetry Master

Lu Fung Tien, Chinese GO Master

Chorus

Annotated Bibliography

Kidder, J. Edward1972 Early Buddhist Japan. New York, New York: Praeger

Publishers.

This gives additional details about the beginnings of Japanese Buddhism, with numerous diagrams and illustrations showing what a setting might look like, giving me a better impression of the general atmosphere I will be trying to create minimally through the presence of the characters.

Matsunaga, Alicia & Daigan.1974 Foundation of Buddhism Vol. 1: The Aristocratic Age. Los

Angeles, CA: Buddhist Books International.1975

This expands on the General History of Prince Shotoku and the Beginnings of Japanese Buddhism. This provides detailed information on Pre-Buddhist Japan, Characteristics of Asuka Buddhism, and the Six Nara Schools of Buddhism.

Moore, Charles. 1967 The Japanese Mind: Essentials of Japanese Philosophy and

Culture. Honolulu, Hawaii: East-West Center Press.

This Illustrates the philosophical Mindset of Buddhists, The relation of Philosophical theory and Practical affairs in Japan, and what kind of values the Japanese elite would want included in the play.

Po, Chu – I2000 Selected Poems (translated by Burton Watson.) New York,

New York: Columbia University Press.

This provided poetry for the Poem Challenge which Kibi must pass, taken from the poetry of po Chu – I , which was revered and recited often in traditional Japan.

Shoko, Watanabe.1964 Japanese Buddhism: A Critical Appraisal. Tokyo, Japan:

Kokusai Bunka Shinkokai.

This details what happened historically with the advent of Japanese Buddhism, concerning the response from the general public at the time, its political connotations, and sets a more personal tone for the historical event. This helps me to show the most important elements concerning the event – things that would make good conflict-resolution items in the play.

Toynbee, Arnold, ed. 1973 Half the World: The History and Culture of China and Japan.

New York City, New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston.

I used this historical overview to locate the topic for my play: The introduction of Buddhism to Japan through the works of Prince Shotoku and his Japanese ambassadors. This is also where I found the tale of Kibi and the GO Game.

In 592 AD, Empress Suiko, the 33rd Mikado of Japan, named

Prince Shotoku, the first son of the late Emperor Yomei, Prince Regent.

In the following thirty years, he established a firm foundation for the

government, striving to elevate the status of Japanese culture to levels

equivalent to high civilizations such as Japan. Before Buddhism was

introduced in Japan, there was no solid philosophical activity, for the

Shinto appreciation for Nature and simplicity was still rampant. At the

time Prince Shotoku took office, Buddhism was still a religion embraced

mostly by immigrants, refugees, diplomats, merchants, and the royal

family; the general public was still largely unaware of the beauty of

Buddhism. The royal family shared much power with numerous feudal

lords throughout the land, and the idea of Mahayana (Great Vehicle)

and Ekayana (one Vehicle) of truth, and the enlightened spirit of

humanity, were waved as emblems of the wisdom of the royal family,

aiding its efforts to consolidate its power. He saw Buddhism as a

treasure trove of Substantial and worthwhile philosophy, and in 607 he

founded the monastery of Horyuji at Nara. Prince Shotoku saw in

Buddhism a universal bond between the ruler and the ruled, thus

achieving national unity and overcoming the clans of the feudal lords.

IN 634, Prince Shotoku’s influences started the practice of

sending Japanese embassies were sent to China to educate scholars in

law, administration, and Confucian and Buddhist Doctrine. IN the 7th

century, the Japanese Minister Kibi was sent to Ch’ang-an to study, and

the Chinese were jealous of his wisdom. They tried to humiliate Kibi

through a series of tests, namely the exegesis of difficult Chinese

texts, recitation of poetry, and a contest of the game of GO. Kibi is

steadily winning against the Chinese GO master, and is suspected of

cheating. In fact, he has swallowed one of the opponent’s pieces. The

Chinese strip Kibi to his underwear and search his excrement for

evidence of his dishonesty, but through the artfulness of magic, Kibi is

able to keep the GO piece in his stomach.

This play will show Kibi traveling on his way home to Japan, and

encountering the spirit of Prince Shotoku disguised as an old hermit.

Incited by Kiwi’s story, Shook will reveal himself through his knowledge

of the foundations of Buddhism, reciting his Seventeen Article

Constitution, and his knowledge on the Shomangyo a Buddhist sutra.