梵音聲에 관한 고찰 ‒ 경전을 중심으로 ‒

Abstract

As Buddhist ritual studies became actively, research scope on the Buddhist chants (梵唄聲) also became broader. However, since there are limitations to proceed the research without theoretical studies, this paper is based on scriptural study of ‘Beomeumseong (梵音聲)’. There are various Buddha’s voice(佛音): eight teaching sounds (八聲音) based on the buddhist doctrines[用], eight vocal aspects (八種梵音) based on its features [體], eight vocal attributes(八音) based on the saintly traits [德], and 64 tones of Buddha (梵音聲) based on the variables [通融]. These voices of Buddha are personified as the Vajra-gītā Bodhisattva who dedicates the voice-offering to Buddha and sings the buddhist sermon to the public to promote prajnā. The concept of the Buddha’s voice, expanded to include the bodhisattva’s voice-offering, and moreover was applied to the ritual Buddhist chants (梵唄). The matrix of 4 mātṛk ā and 12 n ān ā-m ātṛk ā of the Siddhaṃ Characters, 4 intonations of Chinese characters, and 5 or 7 scales which presents the height of the notes formed the Buddhist chants due to its ceremonial phrases. The theoretical system of Buddhist chants must be developed through in-depth study of its types and characters.