Definition
Reading: shōmyō / Sanskrit: śabda-vidyā
Shomyo (声明) is a way of chanting Buddhist scriptures with melodic patterns. It is also called 梵唄 (Bombai). In the past, it was one of the Five Sciences in ancient India. It was a term for the study of letters, sounds, grammar, and Buddhist chanting. However, as it traveled to China and Japan, its meaning changed. It became a word that refers only to Buddhist chanting.
Q&A
- Q: Why do we practice Shomyo in Zen, even though Zazen is the main practice?
- A: Because Zen is related to many other Buddhist schools. It is true that many Zen masters say, "Zazen is enough." However, they say this after they study many scriptures and practice many things. By practicing Shomyo, we can study these scriptures. We can understand Zen deeply through Shomyo.
