法音清流No. 8: 佛光三昧修持法

Fo jing is a Chinese Buddhist devotional music tradition centered on sung and chanted renditions of sutras (佛经), dhāraṇīs, and mantras. It typically presents liturgical texts in Classical Chinese, often interwoven with Sanskrit or Pali seed syllables, and is performed in Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien/Min Nan, or other Sinitic varieties. Musically, fo jing balances austere, syllabic recitation with gentle melodic contours drawn from Chinese pentatonic practice. Performances range from unaccompanied monastic chant to arrangements with temple percussion (wooden fish/mùyú, small bell/qìng, hand cymbals, frame drum, gong) and, in modern recordings, subtle drones, strings, or synthesizer pads. The affect is meditative and reverent—used for worship, memorization of scripture, funerary rites, and personal contemplation—while remaining text-forward so that the sacred words remain intelligible.