ABSTRACT
The vast majority of monasteries at Wutaishan do not use a shengguan ensemble at all. When Han Jun was undertaking field research for his 1993 book about Wutaishan's Buddhist music, he found that Wangsheng Pu Fo and Yansheng Pu Fo were performed at the area's monasteries without shengguan music. Shengguan music has financial and political benefits as well. Shuxiang si's Buddhist music becomes more famous each year, attracting more and more donors to the temple. The music also attracts cultural cadres interested in preserving Buddhist music, such as Han Jun. Holidays that do not have a specifically Buddhist meaning are also celebrated with rituals involving the shengguan ensemble at Shuxiang si. Traditionally, shengguan music was used at Wutaishan in rituals to bring blessings to the imperial family, thereby fostering strong relations between the state and the monasteries. Today at Shuxiang si this music is still used to foster good relations with the state by attracting the support of cultural cadres.
