Abstract
This article gives an account of the development of Buddhist musical practices on the Indian subcontinent from their earliest, datable instances, to the disappearance of Buddhist institutions from India proper, demonstrating the persistence of descendant traditions of Sanskrit Buddhist chant and song in contemporary Japanese, Tibetan, and Newari esoteric Buddhist communities. It is argued that the Buddhist musical theory and praxis of these three cultural spheres both preserve features of ancient and medieval Indian Buddhist music and sonically illustrate the transition from political and social order to de-centralized social organization, a shift that took place between the 7th and 13th centuries in medieval India.
Recommended Citation
Duran, Stephen
(2025)
"Transformation of Buddhist Musical Practices from the 7th-13th Centuries as a Response to Political and Social Disorder in Medieval India,"
Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal: Vol. 3:
Iss.
1, Article 1.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/monsoon-sasa-journal/vol3/iss1/1
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