History of Buddhist Music
Music at the time of the Buddha
Buddhist
style music recognizes its origin in India from 1500 to 2000 B.C.E. It
came from the scriptures in the ancient sacred book (Rg-veda) used by
the Brahmin when praising gods.
Buddhist music has five distinct characteristics namely righteousness, harmoniousness, clearness, profoundness, and persuasiveness. It is with these profound implications in mind that Sakyamuni Buddha commended this music for its artistic and appealing nature.
In the Avatamsaka-sutra, it mentions that Buddhist music can be a means to promote the Dharma. The Buddha once made use of poetic chants and gathas to teach about Bhutatathata and the universal truth of human life. This was a means of easy comprehension so his disciples could memorize and recite them.
In the Saddharna Pundarika Sutra (The Lotus Sutra), it mentions that the Buddha had said, "to sing in praise of the Buddha's moral integrity with a joyful mind is also the path to Buddhahood." In the Ten Chanting Vinaya, the Buddha complimented Bhiksu Bhadra, "Hearing what you sing, five benefits are attained: there is no physical or mental fatigue, what has been memorized will never be forgotten, the voice will not deteriorate and the verses are easily comprehended." So, we can see that Buddhist music not only promotes spiritual sentiment and purifies the mind, it also generates the importance of benefiting others.
Asvaghosa Bodhisattva
Around
the second century CE, Asvaghosa Bodhisattva established the path in India
for promoting the Dharma through Buddhist music. His incomparable wisdom,
eloquence and proficiency in creating music, poetry and drama opened up
a new chapter for Buddhist music.
Playing on his stringed instrument, and singing with great feelings, one day in front of the royal city, Asvaghosa attracted a big crowd. The following day, a great number of youth gathered at a Buddhist temple asking to be ordained.
Once, while Asvaghosa was teaching the Dharma, King Kaniska deliberately fed seven horses that had not eaten for the past six days with his best food to test their reaction to Asvaghosa's teaching. The horses understood Asvaghosa's recitation that life was suffering, empty and impermanent. Even though they were emotionally distressed, they did not touch the food. This was how Asvaghosa Bodhisattva was given his name - the horse-who-listens bodhisattva.
Asvaghosa Bodhisattva had a natural ability for blending Buddha-dharma with music which could be understood and appreciated by people from all walks of life. He had written about the Buddha in the Praise to the Buddha's Deeds, as a way of using music to explain the Buddha's life. This music became very popular and was heard in the palace as well as on the street.
Chinese Buddhist Music
Chinese
Buddhist music originated in the sixth 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 Buddhist Music, which was then passed down from generation
to generation.
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 Venerable Master Hsing Yun compiled the "Sacred Songs of Buddhism", that the revival of Buddhist music came about. Venerable Master 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. 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.
Contemporary Era
More
than 40 years ago, Buddhism in Taiwan was conservative. The youth also
lacked an interest in Buddhism. In order to generate an interest amongst
the youth, Venerable Master Hsing Yun established a youth choir to attract
them through song.
Under the leadership of Venerable Master, 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 Venerable Master established the Buddhist College, the monastic students were taught the traditional Chinese Buddhist music and 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.
"Buddhist Music
as a Means of Promoting the Dharma" has always been the vision of
Venerable 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 Chinese Buddhist music and Buddhism
can be introduced to the world.
© 2004 • FGS Temple of
Toronto • BLIA of Toronto
www.buddhistmusic.ca •
• phone: (905)814-0465