As for Chinese Buddhism, the Southern Verses have a history of over 1,500 years, since the time of the Northern Dynasties (386 - 581). In seventh Yongming year of Qi (490)，Xiao Ziliang，Emperor Wenxuan of Jingling “gathered the samanas who performed excellent chanting in the capital" for the purpose of studying the composition of China's Buddhist music, which set pathos as its main characteristics. Xiaoyan, Emperor Wu of Liang was a great believer in Buddhism and proficient in temperament. The Sacred Music of Liang was composed via his initiative "all into statement of dharma under the name of court music". Changzhou is the birth place of emperors of Qi and Liang, and origin of Southern Verses as well. Traditionally, crowds of monks come all the way to the temple, while the monks excursion out there. In 1940s, over 100 monks left for different destinations after graduation from Tianning Buddhist Academy, which spread the Tianning Temple's "Chanting of Buddhist Verses". Min Zhi, former abbot of Tianning Temple, held the positions as tutor of World Buddhist Center and abbot of Mahayana Temple in New York, U.S. In 1949, Jie De, Fo Sheng, Mo Ru, Lian Hang, Kuan Yu and other monks left for Taiwan, and became abbots of some renowned temples in Taiwan respectively, bringing the Tianning Temple's Verses overseas.
In the sphere of China's Buddhism, there is a saying that "Zen meditation in the Gaomin Temple and burning incense in the Jinshan Temple are sainted, but neither of them can compete with the Tianning Temple's chanting". Tianqing, China's musicologist appointed,"...in the past, the temple's chanting was always considered as a classic example. It is called that some bigger temples learn chanting from the Tianning Temple of Changzhou". According to the manual of Religious Music - Chinese Buddhist Music - Tianning Temple's Chanting (audio tape) by Editorial Board, Encyclopedia of Chinese Audio and Video, "Since modern times, the Tianning Temple gains its reputation for chanting of Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism, which is accepted as a rule on chanting by temples. They assign their monks to Tianning Temple for chanting and its rule. To date, the temples in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan still consider the Tianning Temple's chanting as an authentic one ... The music score is various based on the same source, however the Tianning Temple's chanting has its priority".
In October of 1990, the Chorus of Tianning Temple's Verses was invited to attend the 1st "Chinese Buddhist and Taoist Music Week" in Beijing. The performance was received hearty applause, so come out the Tianning Temple's Chanting (three audio tapes). The current version of Tianning Temple's chanting generally reserves its traditional features, leading the chanting of Chinese Buddhist Verses.
Basics of Chanting: In terms of style and diction, there are two categories for main body of chanting: Praise and Scripture, with end rhyme in poetic and blank verse in prose respectively.
