Musical monks leave their temple to study

Monks from the Jade Buddha Temple perform one of their Buddhist dramas. Photo: Wang Zhefeng/GT

Ten musician monks from the Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple orchestra have started a new trend for Buddhist monks - they are now studying at the Shanghai Theatre Academy and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. They began attending classes in September and, for the next three years, they will be learning singing, music theory, acting and directing.

"We are not professional performers but we hope to learn from professionals how to perform our music better so that we can advance Buddhism," explained Sheng Jing, one of the monks. He said the sole purpose of the exercise was to help them promote Buddhism and their charitable works.

The orchestra was officially established in 2000 and the conductor is Master Jue Xing, who became the abbot of the Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple in November 1999. He has been keen to advance Buddhism using modern techniques and education. "Society is developing and Buddhism has to inherit, develop and innovate as well. Only in this way can we achieve social cohesion and universal salvation," he said.

The orchestra and its performances are a key part of the temple's work. For the past 15 years, the orchestra has performed in China and abroad, presenting Buddhist music and performing shows using traditional instruments. They have adapted classical Buddhist poetry and set music to it and they have created little pieces of theater and dance to illustrate Buddhist stories and legends.

Earliest days

Buddhism began in India around 6 BC and music became an element in the religion from its earliest days. "Monks chanted the scriptures and developed special rhythms and these are the origins of Buddhist music, the mantras," Sheng Jing explained.

He said Buddhists believed music enhanced a person's spirituality and was a good way to revere the Buddha. "Buddhism was introduced to China during the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) and over the following years, it spread and became mixed with Chinese culture. In China the Buddhist mantras were called fanbai which means the chants of monks and they were regarded as holy and tranquil."

Realizing that music made it easier for ordinary people to practice Buddhism, Chinese Buddhists have tried to involve music in their religion from early days, Sheng Jing said.

Today styles of music have become very diverse and music plays a more important role in people's lives. Some of the Buddhist temples in China have created their own orchestras and the Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple has one of the leading Buddhist musical groups in the country. It is a musical group that has changed the lives of many of the monks - some of whom had never been involved with music before.

Ming Fei became a monk when he was 13. Now 34 he joined the Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple in 2001 and then started to learn the xiao (vertical flute) and the dizi (transverse flute) alongside other young monks.

Their teacher was Mao Yulong, a flutist from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. "He came to the temple regularly and taught us how to play these instruments," Ming Fei said.

Peaceful feeling

"At the temple, monks can learn different instruments Iike the guzheng (the traditional Chinese zither), the yangqin (dulcimer) or drums. I chose the xiao and dizi because I love the sound they make. They are very graceful and melodic and spread a peaceful feeling."

"Our abbot, Master Jue Xing, encouraged young monks to join the orchestra, so we had opportunities to learn musical instruments," Ming Fei said.

There are more than 100 monks at the temple and they lead a disciplined and regulated life. "We get up at 5 am and from 5:30 am to 6:30 am we do morning class together at the Mahavira Hall. Then we have breakfast. From 8 am, we monks start our daily chores. Everyone has a different job to do. Some are on duty in the chapels, some chant sutras for people, and others work in the orchestra or promotions department," Ming Fei said. When he is not busy he fits in time to practice.

In July when he heard that the temple would send 10 monks to be trained in music and performing arts he immediately applied to be chosen. After auditions in which he had to show his skills as a performer, singer and musician he, Sheng Jing and eight other monks were accepted for training at the conservatory and the Shanghai Theatre Academy.

Their studies have added to the chores at the temple. Now they have to rehearse their singing before breakfast and, after the morning class, they undertake another half hour of practice.

"From Monday to Friday, we have a full schedule at the conservatory and academy," Ming Fei said. "In this first semester, we are studying some basic principles like music theory, music appreciation, singing and acting. Later we will study directing and opera."