Chinese Buddhist Chant

Paper Summary:

This paper describes a particular Chinese Buddhist chant used for both individual and group practice, which is the repetition, through singing or chanting, of one of the names of Buddha - Amitabha. The author points out that Amitabha, which is an ancient chant, was written in the Sanskrit language before Buddhism was transmitted to China. The paper relates that the chanting is sometimes accompanied by percussion instruments.

From the Paper:

"The Chinese Buddhist chant I have chosen to describe is, perhaps, one of the simplest and most ancient - the chanting of Amitabha. While some Chinese Buddhist chants were originally written in Chinese, this one predates the transmission of Buddhism to China and is therefore written in Sanskrit, the original language of Buddhism that comes from northern India. Amitabha is one of the names of Buddha, and the chant is associated with repentance and forgiveness. It is, in most cases, as simple repetition of the four-syllable word `Amitabha', though in some cases other syllables are added to it. Buddhist thought values simplicity above all things."

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