Buddhist music

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

Honkyoku

Honkyoku (本曲) 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.

Chanting

The chanting of mantras used in or inspired by Buddhism, including many genres in many cultures:

• Repetition of the name of Amitabha in Pure Land Buddhism.
• Repetitious chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and excerpts of the Lotus Sutra within Nichiren Buddhism
• Shomyo in Japanese Tendai and Shingon Buddhism.
• Throat singing in Tibetan Buddhist chants

Tibetan styles

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.

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.

Notable Buddhist musicians

• Ani Choying Dolma^{[citation needed]}
• Kinko Kurosawa^{[citation needed]}
• Imee Ooi^{[citation needed]}
• Eliane Radigue^{[citation needed]}
• Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra^{[citation needed]}
• Adam Yauch
• Bibiladeniye mahanama thero^{[citation needed]}
• Premasiri Khemadasa^{[citation needed]}
• Victor Ratnayake^{[citation needed]}

Greater China

Li Na (李娜), a famous Chinese singer who became a nun in 1997, produced many popular Buddhist music albums under her new name Master Chang Sheng (释昌圣). Influential C-pop singers like Faye Wong and Chyi Yu (who released 4 albums featuring Buddhist chants) also helped Buddhist music reach a wider audience.

Beyond Singing

In 2009, the Beyond Singing Project produced an album combining Buddhist chants and Christian choral music.

The musicians involved were:

• Tina Turner
• Regula Curti
• Dechen Shak Dagsay.