When Buddhism first spread into China, there was only the translation of the sutrapitaka, not the imparting of Buddhist music. Chinese contemporaries absorbed the theory of ancient India’s phonology, and thereby created their scientific study of Chinese phonology. The earliest hai-chao-yin (sounds of the sea-wave), or so-called Brahma voice formed at Mt. Yu created by Cao Zhi (曹植) from the period of the Three Kingdoms, who obtained his surging inspiration at Mt. Yu by comparing and combining the billowing waves at sea with the chanting at an old temple. The tunes of hai-chao-yin from Chinese traditional Buddhist music created a graceful and serene atmosphere, playing an important role in spreading Buddhist music.

In the past, Buddhist music was handed down by word of mouth, now with science and technology developing at a tremendous pace, the publication of various cassette tapes, CDs and digital media has brought Buddhist music to the public, gaining popularity all over the world. The combination of modern music and the solemn essence of Buddhism have brought about the modernization of Buddhist music with a view to reintroducing these historic sounds to the world.