The Founding of the Baikaryū

This article explores the founding of the Baikaryū, the Sōtō school’s lineage of goeika hymn chanting. In the 1920s, Buddhist reformers in other schools developed lineages of singing goeika and in this process standardized the performance practice. Seeing the great popularity of goeika hymn chanting, Sōtō clerics created their goeika lineage in the 1950s, strongly influenced by the Shingon goeika lineages. I examine the background that led to the founding of the Baikaryū. Why did Sōtō clerics decide to create a new goeika lineage? What were their models? And what steps did they take? Throughout this article, I demonstrate that music played a vital role in fostering lay engagement in Sōtō Zen, as well as in other traditional Buddhist schools, in the twentieth century as clerics felt the need to employ new hymns and songs that sound—and “feel”—fresh to lay people.