A Buddhist orchestra from Daxiangguo Temple in Central China’s Henan Province will stage two concerts in Shenzhen in March: one at Longhua Cultural and Art Center on March 21 and the other at Shenzhen Concert Hall the next night.

    Monks from the temple, which was built in the year 555, will perform a series of Buddhist works created in ancient China. Buddhist music is created for or inspired by the religion and generally falls into two categories: Buddhist ceremonial music, and popular music with Buddhist subjects or adapted from Buddhist ceremonial music.

    The monks will use Buddhist ritual instruments and traditional Chinese musical instruments in the performance. The 25 monks in the orchestra have received professional training at the Central Conservatory of Music.

    The temple has a comprehensive collection of ancient music scores, which feature a combination of Chinese Buddhist music and imperial music from the early Song Dynasty (960-1279). The temple’s Buddhist music was recognized as national intangible cultural heritage in 2007.

    The temple reached the height of its status as an imperial temple in the Song Dynasty, but was destroyed in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) due to a flood of the Yellow River. It was reconstructed during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

    Time 1: 8 p.m., March 21

    Tickets: 80-380 yuan

    Venue: Longhua Cultural and Art Center, inside Longhua Cultural Plaza, intersection of Meilong Road and Donghuan Road 2, Longhua New Area (龙华新区梅龙路和东环二路交界龙华文化广场内龙华文化艺术中心)

    Metro: Longhua Line, Qinghu Station (清湖站), Exit D

    Time 2: 8 p.m., March 22

    Tickets: 100-380 yuan

    Reservations: 400-610-3721

    Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, intersection of Hongli Road and Yitian Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路和益田路交汇处深圳音乐厅)

    Metro: Longhua or Longgang Line, Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D(SD News)