The coming of Buddhism brought numerous new instruments and liturgical chant; immigrants from countries such as Korea, China, South-East Asia, and India included acrobatics, instrumental concerts, and solo performances. Buddhist priests learned and expounded upon sutra collections. There were various sutras for different occasions; the main sutras were performed on designated days. They all varied in pitch and tempo, symbolizing and according to mystic revelation and intensity of prayer (Harich-Schneider 43). They were also read to stop or cause the rain.

By 683, Buddist funerals had a special instrumental music; depending on the deceased’s importance, the instruments included cymbals, mouth organs, drums, metal gongs, and a hand bell (Harich-Schneider 44).