Music in Zen?

[Anka]

I imagine Jundo will be able to shed the most light on this but i am also interested in feedback from the rest of the sangha.

Music is a massive force in my life. I could go deeper into this but will spare you all.

I do find music from the different religions interesting and in most cases beautiful. As such I ended up testing my google-fu to get a run down on the history of music in buddhism and ultimately zen. It seems like there really is not history of it (other than the chants of course). Is my fu weak?

Looking forward to the responses.

Jim
Sat
Lah

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[Kokuu]

Hi Jim

I imagine others can answer this better than me but I once read a lovely little book on a similar topic when I had a sick day on retreat and enjoyed it very much. It is about a western man's encounter with the shakuhachi and his experience in learning how to play it. It may not be totally in the category of 'Zen music' but is somewhere near to it at least!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10110116-blowing-zen

Various different types of Buddhism have used different musical instruments with Theravada being quite sparse on this, I believe, and Tibetans employing all manner of drums, bells and horns!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmWVR4NJBrk

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Myogan]

Not so much in the meditation hall aside from the bell and mokyugo, but traditional Japanese instruments were often used in celebrations and processionals.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Japanese_musical_instruments

[Jundo]

Oh, I just was talking about this yesterday with our priests. There is a tradition in Japan of a kind of "hymn" singing for lay folks and priests, called Baika (梅花 Plum Flower, sometimes Goeika ご詠歌, or Reciting Song), and a related form Shomyo (声明 Voice Bright). Soto Zen has a long tradition, but so do other sects (styles are slightly different sect to sect) ...

On Baika

Baikaryu eisanka 梅花流詠讃歌 is a type of Japanese Buddhist hymn created by the Soto Zen school in 1952 in honor of the 700th anniversary of Dogen Zenji’s death. It pairs both very old and more contemporary melodies with the teachings of the Buddha, Dogen Zenji, or Keizan Zenji. Baika is part of a broader category of Buddhist songs of praise called goeika 御詠歌.

The literal translation of baikaryu eisanka is “plum blossom style recitation praise song.” In the Shisho and Baika fascicles of the Shobogenzo, Dogen Zenji writes about the plum blossom as a symbol of the true transmission and flowering of the dharma from person to person and generation to generation. Read more about baika as a term and how it came to represent this kind of singing practice here.

In Japan, baikako, or groups of people who meet at the temple to sing together, form an important social network. Singing at services and celebrations, we share the words and encouragement of our ancestors with many listeners.

What kind of bells are used?
The sho is a flat round bell that sits on three feet and is struck lightly with a small mallet. The rei is a bell with a handle that is held at eye level and rung by moving it back and forth.

What are the songs about?
There are baika songs that summarize key points of Soto teaching, songs dedicated to bodhisattvas Jizo and Kannon, songs marking various events in the Soto liturgical year (Buddha’s birth and death days, anniversary days for Bodhidharma, Dogen and Keizan, etc.) and songs for events like precepts ceremonies, weddings and memorials.
http://dharmalight.weebly.com/baika.html

In ensemble (usually performed so) ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=I0DOM82admk

A Soto priest friend told me, "Baika/goeika and shomyo are not the same thing. Baika is modern (1952) includes some shomyo-style elements but is usually less formal and is frequently sung by groups of laywomen. The notation is also somewhat different and it is accompanied with a set of two handbells."

On Shymyo

http://sound.jp/tengaku/Shichseikai-e/shomyo-e4.html

Here are some Tendai Buddhist Priests performing Shomyo ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBNdaOi8TIU

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

[Jundo]

And in a more current flavor ... some of those Heart Sutras that are around in Japan ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV6VyvAHOdg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX4jeu1nGyo

Hard Core ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YJDWizDqT0

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Anka]

Thank you alk for the wonderful responses.

Gassho
Jim
Sat
Lah

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[Seido]

I do really enjoy the pop Heart Sutra.

Jim, You may be interested in Shakuhachi flute music. Traditionally an instrument from China, it was (is?) used in the Fuke-shū as a form of Zen mediation known as suizen, or blowing meditation. I guess it would be similar in nature to some of the Vajrayana music practices.

Gassho,
Seido
SatToday