Kwan-yin Part 1

Kwan-yin.

BY STELLA BENSON.

[Floral heart]

[Bullet] THE TEMPLE OF KWAN-YIN, G.o.dDESS OF MERCY. A wide altar occupies the whole of the back of the stage; a long fringe of strips of yellow brocade hangs from the ceiling to within 3 feet of the floor at either end of the altar. In the centre of the altar the seated figure of the G.o.ddess is vaguely visible in the dimness; only the face is definitely seen--a golden face; the expression is pa.s.sionless and aloof. A long table about 12 inches lower than the altar stands in front of it, right across the stage. On the table, before the feet of Kwan-yin, is her carved tablet with her name in golden characters on a red lacquer ground. In front of the tablet is a large bra.s.s bowl full of joss-sticks the smoke of which wavers in the air & occasionally obscures the face of Kwan-yin. There are several plates of waxen looking fruit & cakes on the table & two horn lanterns--these are the only light in the scene. On either side of Kwan-yin, between the table and the altar, there is a pillar with a gilded wooden dragon twisted round it, head downward. To the left, forward, is a large barrel-shaped drum slung on a carved blackwood stand.

Four priests & two acolytes are seen like shadows before this palely lit background. One acolyte to the right of the table beats a little hoa.r.s.e bell. This he does during the course of the whole scene, in the following rhythm:--7-8-20-7-8-20. He should reach the 105th beat at the end of the second hymn to Kwan-yin. The other acolyte stands by the drum and beats it softly at irregular intervals as indicated. The acolytes are little boys in long blue coats. The four priests stand at the table with their faces toward Kwan-yin; their robes are pale dull pink silk with a length of deeper apricot pink draped about the shoulders.

The priests kneel and kow-tow to Kwan-yin.

The acolytes sing:

The voice of pain is weak and thin And yet it never dies.

Kwan-yin--Kwan-yin Has tears in her eyes.

Be comforted ... be comforted....

Be comforted, my dear....

Never a heart too dead For Kwan-yin to hear.

A pony with a ragged skin Falls beneath a load; Kwan-yin--Kwan-yin Runs down the road.

A comforter ... a comforter....

A comforter shall come....

No pain too mean for her; No grief too dumb.

Man's deserts and man's sin She shall not discover.

Kwan-yin--Kwan-yin-- Is the world's lover.

Ah, thief of pain ... thou thief of pain....

Thou thief of pain, come in.

Never a cry in vain, Kwan-yin--Kwan-yin....

First priest--tenor--chants:

Is she then a warrior against sin?

On what field does she plant her banner?

Bears she a sword?

First and second priests--tenor and ba.s.s--chant:

The world is very full of battle; The speared and plumed forests in their ranks besiege the mountains; The flooded fields like scimitars lie between the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the mountains.

The mists ride on bugling winds down the mountains.

Shall not Kwan-yin bear a sword?

Third priest--tenor--chants:

Kwan-yin is no warrior.

Kwan-yin bears no sword.

Even against sin Kwan-yin has no battle.

This is her banner--a new day, a forgetting hour.

Her hands are empty of weapons and outstretched to the world.

Her feet are set on lotus flowers, The lotus flowers are set on a pale lake, And the lake is filled with the tears of the world.

Kwan-yin is still, she is very still, she listens always, Kwan-yin lives remembering tears.

At this point the smoke of the joss-sticks veils the face of Kwan-yin. A woman's voice sings:

Wherefore remember tears?

Shall tears be dried by remembrance?

This voice is apparently not heard by the priests and acolytes.

First and third priests chant:

Ah, Kwan-yin, mother of love, Remember Those in pain, Those who are held fast in pain of their own or another's seeking.

Those for whom the world is too difficult And too beautiful to bear,

All:

Kwan-yin, remember, remember.

First and third priests:

Those who are blind, who shall never read the writing upon the fierce rivers.

Who shall never see the slow flowing of the stars from mountain to mountain.

Those who are deaf, whom music and the fellows.h.i.+p of words have forsaken

All:

Kwan-yin, remember, remember.

First and third priests:

Those whose love is buried and broken; All those under the sun who lack the thing that they love And under the moon cry out because of their lack,

All:

Kwan-yin, remember.

First priest:

Oh thou taker away of pain, Thou taker away of tears....

The smoke quivers across Kwan-yin's face again, and the same woman's voice sings:

Wherefore remember the desolate?

Is there a road of escape out of the unending wilderness?

Can Kwan-yin find a way where there is no way?

Still the voice is unheard by the wors.h.i.+ppers. First priest sings, and while he sings the acolyte beats the drum softly at quick irregular intervals.