“Buddha Passion” by Tan Dun

Abstract

Tan Dun is one of the musicians who gained a high reputation in China after the
Chinese Cultural Revolution. His work embraces the principles of Chinese and Western music,
bridging the gap between Western classical music and Asian traditional culture. “Buddha Passion”
for chorus and orchestra or chamber ensemble was composed in 2018. This work reproduces the
musical heritage concealed in cave paintings painted thousands of years ago, which bears in itself
national beliefs and feelings of compassion and hope for the future, expresses the everyday life
and reflections of Chinese culture. “Buddha Passion” is a work in which Tan Dun expresses his
understanding of Zen and Buddhism. The entire work is divided into six acts. Each one of them
contains profound philosophy aimed at guiding people toward good deeds by means of a dialogue
between music and culture, history and the human soul. In this work the composer attempts to
depict the Dunhuang frescoes into music, allowing the audience to “hear” them. The dramatic
character of these paintings is described in the form of an epos. “Buddha Passion” manifests musical
heritage and conveys the long-time events and the composer’s reflections on his native culture. Tan
Dun believes that for the sake of the future development of Chinese culture and Chinese art it is
necessary to study the country’s history and traditions more deeply. In the present day Tan Dun’s
music plays a vital role in the global prestige of Chinese culture, demonstrating its values that
have developed over centuries and millennia, offering the whole world the comprehension of these
cultural riches.

Keywords: Tan Dun, Buddha Passion, Buddhism, Chinese national culture, intercultural
integration