Buddhist music

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Buddhist music is music created for or inspired by Buddhism and part of Buddhist art.

1 Honkyoku
2 Buddhist chant
- 2.1 Shomyo
3 Influence of Buddhism on music
4 Well-known Buddhist musicians
5 Source

[edit] Honkyoku

Honkyoku are the pieces of shakuhachi or hocchiku music played by wandering Japanese Zen monks called Komuso. Komuso played honkyoku for enlightenment and alms as early as the 13th century. In the 18th century, a Komuso named Kinko Kurosawa of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism was commissioned to travel throughout Japan and collect these musical pieces. The results of several years of travel and compilation were thirty-six pieces known as the Kinko-Ryu Honkyoku.

[edit] Buddhist chant

Main article: Buddhist chant

Buddhist chant is chant used in or inspired by Buddhism, including many genres in many cultures:

Repetition of the name of Amitabha in Pure Land Buddhism.
Shomyo in Japanese Tendai and Shingon Buddhism.
Throat singing in Tibetan Buddhist chant

Tibetan Buddhism is the most widespread religion in Tibet. Musical chanting, most often in Tibetan or Sanskrit, is an integral part of the religion. These chants are complex, often recitations of sacred texts or in celebration of various festivals. Yang chanting, performed without metrical timing, is accompanied by resonant drums and low, sustained syllables. Other styles include those unique to Tantric Buddhism, the classical, popular Gelugpa school, the romantic Nyingmapa and Sakyapa and Kagyupa.

[edit] Shomyo

Shomyo (声明) is a style of Japanese Buddhist chant; mainly in the Tendai and Shingon sects. There are two styles: ryokyoku and rikkyoku, described as difficult and easy to remember, respectively.

[edit] Influence of Buddhism on music

United States composer and practicing Buddhist Philip Glass claims his religion does not influence his music directly: "The real impact of Buddhist practice affects how you live your life on a daily basis, not how you do your art." (Kostelanetz, 1992)