Shomyo is a type of Buddhist music which consists of chanting with melodic patterns. It is originated in India. Through China it was transmitted to Japan by Kukai in the Heian period (794-1185). Since then, Shomyo has been inherited today by monks, with great effort. It is classical music of human voice that is simple and complicated at the same time. Shomyo is also an origin of Japanese music. Because a sound dies away by each instant moment after it sounds, the sound is fertilely generated and inherited as music. |