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Buddhist Music |
Buddhist Music as a Means of Promoting the Dharma
More than 40 years ago, Buddhism in Taiwan was still conservative. The youth also lacked an interest in Buddhism. In order to generate an interest amongst the youth, Master Hsing Yun established a Youth Choir to attract them through song. Two such youths are Venerable Tzu Hui and Tzu Jung.
Under the leadership of Master Hsing Yun, the youth choir followed him whenever he toured to spread the Dharma. Later songs by the choir group were broadcast by the Taipei Chinese Broadcasting Company. It was indeed an historic era for Buddhist music to be broadcast across the airwaves. After Master Hsing Yun established the Buddhist College, the monastic students were taught the traditional fan-bei, so in 1979 Fo Guang Shan Buddhist College was made responsible for fostering talent through Buddhist Music concerts. They first performed at the Taipei Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Taipei Cultural Hall followed by many more concerts held at various public theatres.
In 2000, the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Music Choir was formally established, and periodic music tours are organized to introduce the harmonious sounds of Buddhist music. The main objective is to spread Buddhism and Buddhist music to every corner of the globe, thus to build a Pure Land on earth. |
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Buddha
Contemporary Era Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Choir
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"Buddhist Music as a Means of Promoting the Dharma" has always been the vision of Master Hsing Yun, therefore members of the Choir were screened for selection and practiced constantly in order to qualify for international performance tours in Asia, America, Europe and Australia. Their performances have gained profound recognition from experts and scholars in the field of music. It is hoped that in this way oriental Buddhist music and Buddhism can be introduced to the world. 
With the Buddhist Music Choir as a role model, BLIA choirs have been set up worldwide holding practices and contests, so as to enhance and elevate social morals and cultivate an active interest in Buddhist music.