Fanbai: Buddhist Chant
Abstract:
The Fanbai chant tradition of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism is indicative of the values this particular type of Buddhism. This type of chant is primarily liturgical with the primary purpose of teaching the Dharma, but incorporates some musical aspects which on the surface do not seem to forward this goal. Chant walks the line between song and speech. By examining this relationship, we can examine how the relative musical and non-musical aspects relate to the relative importances of the literal meaning of the text and the experience of the chant. Modern developments of Chinese Buddhist music also demonstrate how this balance is changing over time to coincide with cultural changes.
Religious Significance
Liturgical chant is a core component in all sects of the Buddhist monastic tradition, and Fanbai is the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist's adaptation of that. It finds its home within ritual contexts, and is not normally found outside this setting. While there is a small market for recorded chants for listening in western markets, it is largely not considered as casual listening material or even within the western concept of music in the first place within China. The purpose of Fanbai within a religious context is to engage mind, mouth, and body (the trini-karmani) in pure, good karma activity. Being engaged in chant prevents any of this from being engaged in any "evil" thoughts or activities. Chant may also provoke samadhi, a state of concentration and awareness usually achieved through meditation which is thought to be beneficial to the pursuit of enlightenment.
Chant is also as a method of understanding, memorizing, and spreading liturgy. Large portions of chant take place in private or otherwise within the sangha and away from the public specifically for the spiritual development of the monks and nuns themselves. Aside from the effects listed above, it serves as a method for memorizing, experiencing, and developing a relationship with the liturgy. It is also performed in public rituals and services where it serves both a ritual purpose and as a method for teaching the liturgy and by extension the dharma to lay Buddhists.
In the Sarvastivada-Vinaya, the Sangha is forbidden from performing or listening music, yet the chanting of scripture is highly praised. What is the distinction between speech and song, and what does Fanbai's place on this spectrum say about its role in Chinese Mahayana Buddhism?
Buddhist Terminology:
Sangha: The general term for the society of Buddhist monks and nuns.
Dharma: The universal truth taught by the Buddha and the teachings of the Buddha(s) in general.
Karma: Cause and effect at the spiritual level, extending both through the current life and future reincarnations of a person.
Skillful Means: The Buddha taught differently to different people because everyone learns differently. The idea that there is many ways that the Dharma can be successfully taught.
Mahayana: The current largest but not the oldest sect of Buddhism. It originated in India and has become extremely popular in the far East. It's beliefs are in part defined by a goal of enlightenment for all, acceptance of teachers of the Dharma besides "the" Buddha, and the goal of achieving a state of compassion for all beings.
Theravada: The oldest of the main modern Buddhist sects, defined in part by a commitment to austerity and acceptance only of "the" Buddha, Gautama Buddha. It originated in Sri Lanka, but has its largest modern following in Southeast Asia.
Tantric: or Vajrayana Buddhism is a smaller sect which puts a large importance in on the role of mysticism and ritual tradition.
