Yakushiji temple in Nara will host a shomyo Buddhist chant concert in Paris for the first time to publicize the 1,300th anniversary of the Nara Heijokyo ancient capital.
Various events will be held throughout Nara Prefecture in 2010.
The shomyo concert in Paris was organized by the Japan Tourism Agency as part of the Visit Japan Campaign promotion, which aims to attract more foreign tourists to Japan.
Shomyo is a type of vocal music chanted by monks during Buddhist rituals. The chanting style differs by religious sect.
According to an ancient record, shomyo was performed at the eye-opening ceremony of the Great Buddha at Todaiji temple in Nara in 752.
Shomyo has attracted attention as healing music, and CDs of the chanting are available at record shops.
Shomyo is sometimes chanted at a series of events organized nationwide by the temple to offer people an opportunity to think about the Japanese way of life. The temple also has performed shomyo in foreign countries, including Germany and the United States, for about 20 years.
The Paris concert will be held on Feb. 17 at the Maison de la Culture du Japon a Paris.
During the event, seven priests will chant shomyo in repentance for sins or mistakes for about an hour on the stage decorated with a panel of a statue of Yakushi Nyorai.
Eiin Yasuda, chief abbot of the temple, will lecture on seeking a spiritual home.
Hoin Yamada, the vice abbot of the temple, said listening to shomyo at the Paris concert would give people an opportunity to learn about Nara and the 1,300th anniversary of the ancient capital.
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