Metaphorical Language in Meridian Buddhist Hymns Group (MBHG) and Fo Guang Shan’s Sounds of the Human World: A Linguistic Analysis of Word Choice and Semantic Patterns

Project Title:

Metaphorical Language in Meridian Buddhist Hymns Group (MBHG) and Fo Guang Shan’s Sounds of the Human World: A Linguistic Analysis of Word Choice and Semantic Patterns

Research Team:

Principal Investigator: Dr. Yap Teng Teng

Co-Researcher: Associate Prof. Dr. Teoh Hee Chong, Dr. Ching Thing Ho, Venerable You Deng

Background:

Buddhist hymns are more than music—they are "singable scriptures" that convey doctrine, culture, and identity. In Humanistic Buddhism, groups like Meridian Buddhist Hymns Group (MBHG) and Fo Guang Shan’s Sounds of the Human World use metaphor-rich language to share Buddhist values such as compassion, wisdom, and hope, especially with youth.

Despite their impact, the metaphorical structures in these hymns remain under-researched. Using Conceptual Metaphor Theory, this study explores how metaphors shape meaning in selected works from MBHG and Fo Guang Shan.

Research Objectives:

• To compile and organize selected hymn lyrics from the Meridian Buddhist Hymns Group (MBHG) and Fo Guang Shan’s Sounds of the Human World series.
• To analyze the metaphorical language used in these hymns using cognitive and semantic frameworks.
• To explore how Humanistic Buddhist values are expressed through metaphor in these lyrical texts, with attention to Malaysian cultural and youth contexts.

Research Methodology:

This study applies Conceptual Metaphor Theory to analyze how metaphors in Buddhist hymns convey doctrinal meaning. It integrates Leech’s Semantic Theory and the Tenor–Vehicle–Ground model to explore emotional and structural layers of metaphor, while also considering discourse framing in both institutional and grassroots contexts.

Using discourse analysis (Pihlaja, 2021), hymn lyrics are treated as religious discourse that shapes belief, memory, and cultural identity—beyond mere poetic expression.