Buddhist Music (Buddhist music of daxiangguo Temple)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Buddhist music

Applicant: Kaifeng City, Henan Province

Item No.: 637

Project No.: Ⅱ - 138

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Henan Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Kaifeng City, Henan Province

Protection unit: daxiangguo temple, Kaifeng

Introduction to Buddhist Music (Sanskrit music of daxiangguo Temple)

Applicant: Kaifeng City, Henan Province

Buddhist music is the music used by Buddhist temples in various religious activities and festivals. Buddhism was introduced into China around the reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the long-term development process, Buddhist music from India and the western regions has a unique appearance because of absorbing the artistic factors of Chinese folk music, and has become an important part of Chinese Buddhist culture. It contains not only Chinese national music tunes, but also Indian and western minority music tunes. Music chanting, also known as "Buddhist Chanting", which is directly used in Buddhism, praises Buddha and Bodhisattva in the form of short verses. There are solo, chorus and other chanting methods. Musical instruments can be used to accompany chanting.

Located in Kaifeng City, Henan Province, daxiangguo temple is one of the ten famous temples of Chinese Buddhism. It was first built in the sixth year of Tianbao (555) of the Northern Qi Dynasty and has a history of more than 1400 years. The Sanskrit music originated from the Tang and Song Dynasties, which included the essence of court music, temple music and folk music. During the Northern Song Dynasty, a Buddhist music system centered on daxiangguo temple in Kaifeng was formed, which affected the whole Central Plains. Nowadays, the Sanskrit music of daxiangguo temple is mainly spread in Kaifeng, Xinmi and baiyun temple. In addition, there are five copies of the music Manual of daxiangguo temple and six temperament of Shikuang.

There are more than 200 kinds of Sanskrit music repertoire in daxiangguo temple, which is divided into vocal music and instrumental music. The "Ji" of sound music is composed of 32 syllables of Sanskrit, which is very precious. Instrumental music is mainly composed of traditional Buddhist music and Zhongzhou regional music, with strict organization and standard performance. Every time the grand Xiangguo Temple held a major celebration, famous monks from all sides were invited to perform together, and the scene was spectacular. His representative instrumental music works include "praise for the incense on the stove", "praise for jiedingzhenxiang", "praise for Baoding" and "little three treasures".

The Sanskrit music of daxiangguo temple is unique in Buddhist music, with fresh and elegant sound and profound meaning. The singer's body and mind are in one, the thing and I are forgotten, the listener's mind is suddenly open, the mind is wandering, the emotion is moving, achieves the extremely high life and the esthetic realm. The Buddhist music of daxiangguo temple is an important part of Chinese Buddhist music, which has high historical and cultural research value. At present, the Sanskrit music scores of daxiangguo temple are scattered, and there is no successor. It is urgent to invest in rescue and protection.