Book on China's Buddhist music, culture begins compiling

　　BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Compiling of a comprehensive book on Chinese Buddhist music and culture was started in late June in Beijing, with the total financing exceeding 30 million yuan (4.3 million U.S. dollars).

　　"Comprehensive Book on China's Buddhist Music and Culture" will arrange historical records about Buddhist music in China as well as current religious ritual music.

　　Tibetan monks play Buddhist music at the Fourth Wutaishan Mountain Buddhist Culture Festival held in north China's Shanxi Province, on Aug. 21, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

　　With the participation of the most prominent figures in the field around China and the use of the most advanced technology, the project will play a key role in protecting, developing and promoting Buddhist music and culture in the country.

　　The book includes volumes on music and culture of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Therevada Buddhism, according to the compiling team.

　　Artists from the Wutaishan Mountain Fanyin Buddhist Culture Troupe play Buddhist music at the Fourth Wutaishan Mountain Buddhist Culture Festival held in north China's Shanxi Province, on Aug. 21, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

　　China has paid great importance to the study and classifying of Buddhist music and culture since ancient times, said Yuan Jingfang, chief editor of the encyclopedia. However, it was not until the 1930s that the research of Buddhist music was taken into serious account, added Yuan, who is also director of the Buddhist Music and Culture Research Center of Central Conservatory of Music.

　　According to Yuan, the study of Chinese Buddhist music in ancient times placed particular emphasis on collecting and writing down historical records, involving the accurate resources of bon bai-- Buddhist chanting of prayers of Han Buddhism.

　　The period between the 1930s and the mid-1950s was the primary phase of contemporary Chinese Buddhist music, during which Chinese musicians began shifting their focus on Buddhist music played at folk religious activities.

　　Monks from the Wutaishan Mountain Nanshan Temple play Buddhist music at the Fourth Wutaishan Mountain Buddhist Culture Festival held in north China's Shanxi Province, on Aug. 21, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

　　In the 1980s, more musicians began field study of, recording and transcribing music scores at religious occasions in more areas in China.

　　From the 1990s to date, the study of the music has made great improvement, with more books on Buddhist music published and more academic exchanges worldwide.