Buddhist Music

Chinese Fanbei originated in the 6th year (225 CE) of Emperor Wei Wen-di's reign. One day on his journey to Mt. Yu in the Shandong province, Prince Zhao-Chi heard a graceful, gentle music floating down from the heavens. He was in awe. To him the music was inspiring and unforgettable, so he composed it as Fan-bei (Buddhist Music), which was then passed down from generation to generation. Prince Wen Xuan (Xiao Zi Liang) of the Southern Dynasty sought the help of Buddhist monks to re-compose the music of Fan-bei. Emperor Liang Wu-di, (502~549 CE), a devout Buddhist from the Southern-Northern Dynasties, introduced many Buddhist rituals such as the Great Offering Ceremony, The Ullambana Dharma Festival, Emperor Wu Repentance Service and many other Buddhist Dharma activities. With Emperor Liang Wu-di's innovations, music and Fan-bei was combined and commonly used in Buddhist ceremonies.

Generally speaking, there are 4 kinds of Buddhist music:
1. Stotras or songs used in praise of the Buddha's merits.
2. Gathas or verses, explaining the teachings of the Buddha. Each gatha is composed of four sentences. Each sentence could be 4, 5, 6, 7, or 9 words in Chinese characters.
3. Dharani or Mandra are incantations in words. 
4. Jbaptidvitiya Karmaracana is intonation on five types of words - fen chi bai, fan bai, su shen bai, ben fan bai and dao qiang bai.

Buddhism flourished during the Tang dynasty and Buddhist music was also very popular. The famous poet Han-Yu (768 - 824 CE) expressed in his poems the popularity of Buddhist music in everyday life: "Buddhist teachings are heard in every street; And bells and horns are heard at every corner right up to the palace gate." At that time, Buddhist music was commonly heard and chanted by ordinary folks and nobility alike.

However, such inspiring music did not last. After the years of the Republic, Buddhist music was not recognized and slowly faded away. It was not until the 1960's when Master Hsing Yun compiled the "Sacred Songs of Buddhism", that the revival of Buddhist music came about. Master Hsing Yun said that music plays an important role in the propagation of Buddhism. The function of music includes changing of one's personality, the cultivation of peace and calmness and the purification of one's body and mind. 

In the past, Buddhists used music only in their own practice, but the use of Buddhist music was often neglected when spreading the Dharma. For the purpose of promoting Buddhism, we would like to emphasize the following:

1. Buddhist music should be used by the public in public places, and should not be reserved for the use by monks and nuns in monasteries and temples only.
2. Buddhist music should be innovative and refreshing, and should not only be used for honoring the Buddha during Dharma functions.
3. Dharma teachers should use Buddhist music as a way to introduce Buddhism to the younger generation.
4. We hope to see Buddhist choir groups in all Buddhist temples and organizations.
5. We hope that in future Buddhist music can nurture more talent and create music masters, like Asvaghosa and Master Hung Yi.

Music is a global language with no boundaries, and is not limited by country, culture, or spiritual practice. May Buddhist music flow through all the Dharma realms, and may the propagation of Buddhism permeate the whole universe. It shall be like bringing a living spring to all sentient beings.

Asvaghosa

Chinese Fan-Bei

Contemporary Era

Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Choir

Album

2004 Schedule

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