Yeongsan hoesang (영산회상; 靈山會相) is a Korean court music repertoire originated from Buddhist music.[1] [2] Originally sung with 7 words chanting "Yeongsan hoesang bulbosal", the piece told the Buddha’s sermon in Mount Yeongsan, India, according to Lotus Sutra. After a long period, the piece is now performed instrumentally.[2] There are 3 versions (Sam-yeongsanhoesang) including the play for wind instruments (pyojeongman bangjigok), strings (hyeonak yeongsan hoesang) and combination of string and wind instruments (pyeongjo hoesang).[2]
A Yeongsan hoesang play consists of 8 episodes which can be played fully without break either certain pieces presented separately. Tempo gradually increases during each episode except for the sixth episode that is slower than previous episode.[1]
The 8 episodes are:
Instruments used in Yeongsanhoesang are sepiri (small piri), daegeum (large bamboo flute), danso (short bamboo flute), haegeum (2 stringed fiddle), gayageum (12 stringed-zither), geomungo (6 stringed-zither), janggu (hourglass-shaped drum) and yanggeum (western style zither).[1]