In Sôtô Zen, there exists different kinds of chants, which illuminate the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni
and the patriarchs of this school. There is the chanting of Sutras: texts attributed to great masters, chanted with a single note. There is the Shômyo: a melodic pattern of several notes for a single syllable.
Then, there is Baika: chanted poems and hymns, accompanied by small bells.
Baika 梅花 plum blossom
Ryu 流 school
Eisanka 詠賛歌 chanted poem expressing gratitude and devotion.
The plum blossom is a traditional Japanese symbol of resilience and beauty in face of challenges,
as it is the first tree to flower at the end of winter.
Master Dôgen was a monk, poet, one of the greatest Japanese philosophers, and one of the most important thinkers throughout the history of Buddhism. For him, the blossoming of the plum tree also symbolized the true transmission
and fulfillment of the Buddha’s teachings from person to person, from generation to generation.
In 1952, the Sôtô school created Baika-ryu Eisanka, commemorating the 700th anniversary of master Dôgen’s death.
Introducing music to temples was also intended to bolster the spirits of the Japanese people after their defeat in the Pacific.
Even though Baika is chanted in Japanese, the ritual that accompanies the chant and the choice of melodies are enough to create a caring, respectful, and joyful space. Thanks to the available translations, the ancient words of the patriarchs
that we pronounce, accompanied by the gentleness of the melodies, imbue us with the depth of their teachings.
