The comparative study of a melodious point in Syomyo (sabda-vidya) of Tendai sect and Hongan-ji Branch in the Shin sect

Abstract

Hongan-ji Branch in the Shin sect borrowed Syomo of Tendai sect positively since the middle of the Edo period, and now uses above seventy strains of Syomyo of Tendai sect, and so Syomyo of Tendai occupies almost all of the memorial service in Hongan-ji Branch.
The Jodo sect, the Nichiren sect, the Bukko-ji Branch in the Shin sect, and so on attempt to make their memorial services solemn attaching them before or after the unique order of their 'Regular chanting of sutras, .
In comparison with this, Hongan-ji Branch is more closely connected with Tendai.
Since Meiji 16 (1883) Hongan-ji Branch has ceased a connection with Tendai sect, and Syomyo of Tendai sect and the one of Hongan-ji Branch have originally developed for this one hundred years. Therefore, now there have been great differences between their musical atmosphere.
This MS. is the comparative study of a melodious point in Syomyo of Tendai sect and the one of Hongan-ji Branch at the present time, so I intend to express the differerence between them in comparing their style of melody, considering the fact that syomyo of Tendai sect consists of the combination of melodic style.
(1) The type in the same singing. These are the same singing in both of them.
(2) The type in the same singing but the different title.
(3) The type in the different singing. Both singings are much alike, but there are a little diffrent singings.
(4) The type which have a difference of ornaments. Though both styles of melody in itself are the same, their musical atmosphere are different on account of the existence of ornaments.
(5) The type which both styles of melody in itself are different. Originally, I suppose, they are the same singing, but now they both changed and differed either of Tendai and Hongan-ji.
(6) The type which are the same title but the different singings.
(7) The type not used in the Hongan-ji Branch
As above I classified, and what brings the difference between Syomyo of Tendai sect and the one of Hongan-ji Branch is the difference of ornaments.
Comparing the two, a lot of old singings remained in the Hongan-ji Branch.