Soundscapes of the Pure Land?

This chapter examines transformations of ritual music in Shin Buddhism in three geographical settings from the beginning of the twentieth century: Japan, the continental United States and Hawai'i, and Europe, and considers what these transformations tell us about broader issues of globalisation and localisation, and notions of identity. It also looks at new Western musical forms developed in Japanese Jōdo Shinshū from the late nineteenth century, in parallel with, but distinct from, the development of new forms of musical services, featuring Christian-style hymns in Shin Buddhist temples in Hawai'i and the continental United States from the early twentieth century. In contrast Europe has been relatively conservative in terms of musical forms used, preferring to use chanting forms derived from Japan.