Shomyo, Buddhist chanting by Hoken Inaba, the charismatic chief monk of the Koyasan Hongakuin Temple. The chants are of the Nanzanshin school shomyo of the Shingon sect.

Another volume of Buddhist chanting by Hoken Inaba.

Goeika is a type of Japanese Buddhist music, essentially, short praise poems sung to the accompaniment of small metal gongs and hand bells. It is sometimes compared to Gregorian chants, and were written by Emperor Kazan about one thousand years ago. The 88 temple pilgramage is a 1,400 mile Buddhist circuit around the island of Shikoku, through 88 temples founded by the monk and scholar Kukai, who is credited with creating the kana syllabary in the Japanese language. Together with volume 2, this is a recording of each of the goeika associated with the 88 temples. 49 tracks.

Volume 2 of the goeika (Buddhist hymns) associated with the 88 temples on the Shikoku pilgramage tour. 49 tracks.

Jodo Shinshu, literally True Pure Land Religion, also 'Shin Buddhism' was founded by the monk Shinran Shonin and is probably the most practiced branch of Japanese Buddhism. 24 tracks of Jodo Shinshu chants.

Koyasan (Mount Koya) is the centre of Shingon Buddhism. A small town near the top of the mountain, Koyasan is home to over 100 temples. This is a CD of 15 tracks of Buddhist chants from some of these temples.

Shingonshu Buzanha is a Buddhist sect based on the teachings of Kobo Daishi, Kogyo Daishi and Senyo Sojo, three great masters. The head temple is in Nara, and the centre at a temple in Tokyo. This is an album of 22 chants associated with the sect.

19 Buddhist Chants associated with the Chizanha branch of Shingon Buddhism. The head temple is the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.

The Soto school of Japanese Buddhism is one of the three zen sects, established in China during the Tang Dynasty in the 9th century, and brought to Japan in the 13th century. The head temples are Eiheiji and Soji-ji. This is an album of 19 texts chanted in Soto temples, including Sandokai, 'Harmony of Difference and Sameness'.

Rinzai, one of the three zen sects, is the Japanese line of the Chinese Linji school. The emphasis is on sudden enlightenment. This is a CD of 19 chants associated with the Rinzai sect.

Nichirenshu is a Buddhist order, founded by Nichiren Shonin in the 13th century. It's doctrine is based on the belief that the Lotus Sutra represents the embodiment of the Buddha. It's most important chant is Odaimoku- Namu Myoho Renge Kyo- 'Adoration to the Scripture of the Lotus of the Perfect Truth' 18 tracks.

Hokkeshu is a sub-school of the larger Nichiren Buddhist school. 22 chants.

The Tendai School of Buddhism is one of the largest schools, its practices based on the Lotus Sutra, and belonging to Mahayana Buddhism. 19 tracks.

Toyama and the mountains of Tateyama are an important Shugendo site. Shugendo is a religion based upon attainment of a kind of magical and supernatural power through training in the mountains. 27 tracks.

Honganji is the largest school of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, established in 1321. 6 tracks.

13 chants associated with the Otanhiha sect.

Pure and traditional shomyo, or Buddhist chants from one of the most revered Buddhist sects in Japan. 19 tracks and 77 minutes of bliss.

The celebrated buddhist monks who belong to the shin-gon sect, perform the real, raw shomyo or buddhist chants. This CD is of the Iidate Rongi, a ceremony that is held every month, that takes on a form something like a discussion.

Coming primarily from China, the practice of singing and composing chants based on sacred texts and hymns became known as Shomyo in Japan. Elaborate ceremonies could include court music, or gagaku, although unrelated the chanting and the instrumental music performed simultaneously creates a powerful multisonic texture. On this new recording, the Tendaisyomyo Buddhist sect are joined by guitarist Tatsuya Koumazaki and the group Pangaea, playing various percussion, the Japanese zither, the Koto and flutes among other instruments to add another dimension.

One of two remarkable recordings of Shomyo (Buddhist chants) this one of the Shingonshu sect, accompanied by taiko drums, shinobue (flute) nohkan (flute) koto (harp), sho (mouth organ), percussion and most notably guitar. It is an unlikely combination but totally effective as voices, normally sung accappella, are enhanced by a sympathetic accompaniment that enriches their effect.

The real and raw shomyo (buddhist chanting). Engaging, fascinating and strangely relaxing, as the low pitched drones are accompanied by metalitic percussion, shell blowing, and just accappella on others. Includes powerful, startling solo singing, from an exclusive, high buddhist sect. Not for anyone with a nervous disposition.

Superb recording of mostly unaccompanied buddhist chanting, sometimes in unison, sometimes solo. There are 24 main monks performing, the oldest and leader being 91 years old. The chants are punctuated with the occasional bells (hansho, kin) and gongs (nyo, dora) The monks belong to the Shin-gon sect and Joraku-kai is one of their main ceremonies held at Tongo-buji temple. The shingon sect was founded by Kukai (774-835) who died aged 60 on Mount Koya. Fascinating document.

Traditional shomyo- buddhist chants with only minimal accompaniment.

Performance of the Tsukinami Mieku, a Buddhist memorial service for the dead.