Fan-bei in Chinese transliteration, Buddhist chanting, with the

accompaniment of wooden fish, yin-qing (hand-bell), da-qing (large

bell-shaped bell), dang-zi (small gong), ha-zi (cymbal), jung-gu (bell

and drum), and other instruments, is orchestration of tonal highs and

lows like in a singing score. Assembly in the temple for sutra recitation

and Buddha remembrance, when accompanied by chanting, results in

neat order. Such is the role of fan-bei, Buddhist chanting.

The purport of sutra recitation is that the Buddha' s doctrine needs

to be thoroughly read. With heartiest concentration of thought and

remembrance alongside absorption of content, the goal of sutra

recitation is hence met. Basically, fan-bei or chanting is unneeded

if conducting own recitation, but some practitioners do enthuse in

conducting own chanting.