Chinkon Shiyou
ALI PROJECT
The Eternal Struggle for Peace and Sacrifice in 'Chinkon Shiyou'
ALI PROJECT's song 'Chinkon Shiyou' delves into profound themes of sacrifice, peace, and the eternal struggle that humanity faces. The lyrics pose a poignant question: can we truly offer our lives to protect those we love? This question sets the tone for the entire song, exploring the depths of human courage and the lengths to which we might go to safeguard peace. The imagery of holding a sword named 'peace' suggests a paradoxical relationship between violence and tranquility, highlighting the complexities of achieving true harmony in a world fraught with conflict.
The song also touches on the concept of ancestral spirits and the continuity of life and death. The reference to 'umarekuru mae no ware' (the self before birth) and 'nemuru mitama' (sleeping souls) evokes a sense of timelessness and the cyclical nature of existence. This spiritual dimension is further emphasized by the recurring motif of the white dove, a universal symbol of peace, which appears throughout the song. The dove's flight and the midday moon create a surreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere, suggesting a world where the boundaries between life and death, reality and dreams, are blurred.
In the latter part of the song, the lyrics shift to a more personal and emotional tone. The imagery of 'semishigure' (cicada rain) and the 'mabayui sora no aosa' (dazzling blue sky) evoke a sense of fleeting beauty and the transient nature of life. The song speaks to the sorrow and resilience of those left behind, urging them to live on and find strength in the face of loss. The final lines, which call for strength and resilience, encapsulate the song's message: in the face of inevitable suffering and the passage of time, we must find the courage to live and cherish the preciousness of life.