In rituals or ceremonies, spiritual music has always played a very important role. Buddhist music originated from fan-bei (Chinese: 梵唄, Sanskrit: patha) literally means sacred music from heaven and is sung in praise of Buddha’s moral integrity. “Fan” means heaven and “bei” means clearness and pureness. Therefore, fan-bei is sacred music from the heavens. Its rhythm will not rouse one to dance wildly but will calmly elevate one mindfully. This is the reason why fan-bei has been passed down through the ages maintaining its strength and potential. Such potential not only makes spiritual thought noble but also plays a key role in purifying the human mind.

In the early days in Ilan, northern Taiwan, Ven. Master Hsing Yun used to organize cultural activities, and in 1957 led the Buddhist choir to produce the first Buddhist recording. The Buddhist music that was broadcast over the radio received an overwhelming response, giving him great hope and confidence. From 1979 onwards, Buddhist Music Concerts have been held worldwide. Besides introducing Buddhist music, concerts are also a means of teaching the Dharma. He appreciates the combination of traditional and modern trends for bringing eastern and western cultures closer together. Besides Buddhist music, the performances also incorporate Dunhuang Dances as well as Chinese and western orchestral instruments in order to convey the beauty of Buddhist music.

The Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Choir has performed internationally. It toured eleven countries in Europe during 1999 and Australia during 2000. This was the beginning of a new chapter in Buddhist music history. For the past 50 years, Ven. Master has been promoting Buddhist music and touring around the world hoping that the calmness of Buddhist music can bring peace and harmony to the world.