This chant originates from China during the Tang dynasty. In China the practice seems to have died out, and there doesn't appear to be any evidence that it ever caught on in Vietnam or Korea. But in Japan the practice was revived and promulgated by Master Hakuin. Hakuin's “Japanese” version of the chant is actually the original Chinese version, but with the characters being pronounced using the Sino-Japanese pronunciation. More recently, Master Sheng Yen has reintroduced the practice to Chinese Buddhists, using the modern Mandarin pronunciation of the characters (and setting it to music). Master Dae Gak has introduced the “Kanzeon chant” among Western Buddhists practicing in the Korean tradition, but he uses the Japanese pronunciation. Below is an attempt to come up with a “Sino-Korean” version that uses the Korean pronunciation of the characters, while retaining the rhythm of the Japanese version.
| Sino-Korean (RR) | Hanja | Hangul | Kanji | Sino-Japanese | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yeon myeong shib gu gwan eum gyeong | 延 命 十 句 觀 音 經 | 연 명 십 구 관 음 경 | 延 命 十 句 觀 音 経 | en mei jukku kannon gyo | Extend Life Ten Phrase Kwan Um Sutra |
| kwan se eum | 觀 世 音 | 관 세 음 | 觀 世 音 | kanzeon | perceive world sound |
| na mu bul-ta | 南 無 佛 陀 | 남 무 불 타 | 南 無 佛 | na mu butsu | homage to buddha |
| yeo bul-ta yu in | 與 佛 陀 有 因 | 여 불 타 유 인 | 與 佛 有 因 | yo butsu u in | with buddha have cause |
| yeo bul-ta yu dan | 與 佛 陀 有 緣 | 여 불 타 유 단 | 與 佛 有 緣 | yo butsu u en | with buddha have condition |
| bul beop seung dan | 佛 法 僧 緣 | 불 법 승 단 | 佛 法 僧 緣 | bup po so en | [with] buddha dharma sangha [have] condition |
| sang kwae-rak a jeong | 常 快 樂 我 淨 | 상 쾌 락 아 정 | 常 樂 我 淨 | jo raku ga jo | permanence happiness self purity |
| jo yeom kwan se um | 朝 念 觀 世 音 | 조 염 관 세 음 | 朝 念 觀 世 音 | cho nen kan ze on | morning mindful Kanzeon |
| mo yeom kwan se um | 暮 念 觀 世 音 | 모 염 관 세 음 | 暮 念 觀 世 音 | bo nen kan ze on | evening mindful Kanzeon |
| yeom yeom jong shim gi | 念 念 從 心 起 | 염 염 종 심 기 | 念 念 從 心 起 | nen nen ju shin ki | this continuous mindfulness comes from the mind |
| yeom yeom bul li shim | 念 念 不 離 心 | 염 염 불 리 심 | 念 念 不 離 心 | nen nen fu ri shin | this continuous mindfulness never leaves the mind |