Sacred soundscapes: exploring the philosophical transformation and spiritual dimensions in Chou Wen-chung’s musical world

The renowned Chinese-American composer Chou Wen-chung dedicated his career to blending traditional Eastern culture with Western modern music. His works incorporate the philosophical principles of the I Ching, the expressive beauty of Chinese calligraphy, the spiritual essence of the guqin, and Buddhist thought, transforming these elements into sacred sonic spaces and philosophical dimensions within his music. This study examines several of Chou’s compositions to explore how he translates cultural heritage and philosophical concepts into modern musical expression. First, it explores how the I Ching’s concept of ‘change’ and its cosmology of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity are reflected in Chou’s self-devised variable mode system. Second, it investigates how the guqin’s sonic aesthetics and its philosophy inspired Chou’s creation of sacred sonic spaces. Third, it examines the relationship between the dynamic brushstrokes in Chinese calligraphy and Chou’s composition. Fourth, it analyzes the influence of Buddhist thought on The Soliloquy of a Bhiksuni. Finally, this paper summarizes how Chou Wen-chung created a cultural musical palace in which the I Ching, calligraphy, the guqin, and Buddhist thought are seamlessly integrated and internalized into a unique musical language and examines the influence of his compositions in the field of global transcultural composition.