Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Golgofrinchian wrote:

I am very new to the Shakuhachi flute. I love the sound and wish to use it in some sort of ceremony at our zen center. I have seen on other posts around here the reference to meditation and honkyoku. What exactly is blowing the honkyoku? Is it a song or set of music used in zen ceremonies?

I am looking for a teacher still and I am sure these simple questions could be answered then. In the mean time, I guess Ill be a bother here .

Thanks,

Joe

Sorry to say but your question or statement is a bit vague.

You are saying you want to use Honkyoku in some sort of ceremony. Well to begin one needs to be able to play Honkyoku and then using it in a ceremony is a different thing. Although Shakuhachi has its roots in Buddhism both Kengyo and Mikkyo there is no set or prescribed situation where the Shakuhachi is or has to be used in any of the known sects other than the Fuke school.

Its usage in general buddhist ceremonies when it happens is usually generated by the situation itself. The only place where you would hear Honkyoku played for sure is at a gathering of Shakuhachi players at various commemorative situations relative to the fuke school or some modern day Komuso group.

Now back to your original question WHAT IS HONKYOKU. The answer is quite simple being that it is the traditional music played on Shakuhachi that was left by the Komuso and then the various schools that came out of that.

I strongly suggest taking the time to read the various topics in the Zen part of the forum and also the other parts of the forum that could be relevant to the multiples questions you might have. This will help you greatly in formulating questions that will clear.

Golgofrinchian wrote:

What exactly is blowing the honkyoku? Is it a song or set of music used in zen ceremonies?

Joe,

Here are some links which may be helpful in answering your question:

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honkyoku

     http://www.shakuhachi.org/HONKYOKU.html

     http://www.zenflute.com/kinko.html

     http://www.rileylee.net/shaku_about.html

     http://www.komuso.com/schools/

Regards, and welcome,

eB