Vocal Music II
Buddhist Chant
Since its appearance in Korea during the fourth century, Buddhism has flowered into a unique system of self discipline and faith, and the remaining architectural, sculptural, meditational, and performance expressions attest to this. From dawn to dusk and into the night, sutra chants continue in the halls of Buddha measured with bells, wood gongs, and accompanying various dedication ceremonies and prayers. A Korean Zen master, Seung Sahn Sunim, speaks on the wisdom of chanting (Excerpt from: “On the Wisdom of: A Korean Zen master on ‘Becoming’ your voice.” ):
SEUNG SAHN SUNIMChanting meditation means keeping a not-moving mind and perceiving the sound of your own voice. Perceiving your voice means perceiving your true self or nature. Then you and the sound are never separate, which means that you and the whole universe are never separate. With regular chanting, our sense of being centered gets stronger and stronger. When we are strongly centered, we can control our feelings, and thus our condition and situation.[17]From the excerpt of Master Seung Sahn Sunim, 'On the Wisdom of Chanting: A Korean Zen master on 'Becoming' your voice,' provided by Beliefnet: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/40/story_4076_1.html
On special ceremonial days, including Buddha´s birthday, major temples stage auspicious rituals known as pômp´ae that mix singing and chanting. In the beginning, seventy-two instruments were utilized; only thirteen instruments are used in the present.[18]http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/buddhist-art/korean07.htm
A more accessible form of chant, yômbul, is more commonly associated with the Korean temple atmosphere inclusive of mountains, changing seasons, water dripping through the rocks, dogs barking, wind chimes, and occasional visitors in search of enlightenment and peace. The recommended chanting strategies are applicable to singing as a whole: when chanting, straighten your posture, stabilize your energy, do not shake your body or act superficially, do not chant too loud nor too low, the volume should be commensurate with your energy level, focus entirely on the sound of yômbul, and on the meaning of the text, so that your voice and the meaning of the text come together and connect.[19]http://www.wonbuddhism.or.kr/kyose/jeangjen/yeombul.html Included here is Yebulmun, "Dedication," by Yôngin sûnim.[20]From the CD Yôngin sûnim yômbul series: Yebul. Ch'ônsugyông. Omni Media. The first four lines are included for you to chant:
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"Yebulmun (Dedication)"
 Yebulmun |
Dedication |
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Kyehyang, chônghyang, haet´alhyang, haet´aljigyônhyang
Kwangmyông undae chubyôn pôpkye kongyang sibang muryang pulpôpsûng
Ombara tobiya hum, ombara tobiya hum.
Chisim kwimyônrye samgye tosa sasaengjabu sia ponsa Sôkkamoni pul. |
Incense of the Order, incense of the right mind, incense of the wisdom, incense of the transcendence, incense of the transcendental vision
(Burn the incense)
With all my heart I dedicate to the teacher of the three worlds, the benevolent father of the four lives, and our revered teacher, Sôkkamoni Buddha. |
| Translation by Yôngin sûnim. | |
Korean traditional music can be divided into Korean folk music, aristocratic chamber music, Korean court music, and religious music.
