Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Here is a quote from David Duncavage's web site:

"The shakuhachi is an end-blown bamboo flute varying from 1.3 to over 3 feet in length. It came into Japan from China at the end of the 7th century. From this period until as late as the 12th century it was used in gagaku (court music). Little is known of the music that was played on the shakuhachi at this time, although there are some flutes from this period preserved at Shoso-In in Nara, Japan. These flutes have 6 finger holes, and were made from thin walled bamboo."

Thanks guys

Interesting how they were seen as treasures and given to emperors. I wonder if such honour could still be given today. That'd be a good tradition to start up again.

Thanks again

John

In re. the Mujitsu Taimu gifting:

I think it'd be appropriate if you gave it to them after it's all dried and shriveled...

Kinda fitting then.

On the other hand, if anyone out there actually belives that the gift of a shakuhachi would lead either of them to blow ro buki on a daily basis, I would be happy to be the first to contribute to the fund that would make that possible. Don't let it be said that people are incapable of change or that I don't put my money where my mouth is :-)

According to Yuko Kamisango's history of the shakuhachi, the ancient shakuhachi which are preserved today in Nara's Shoso-In treasury house were playable and probably used in gagaku in those days.  The bamboo flutes in the Shoso-In were made from hachiku (phyllostachys nigra, var. henonsis), while shakuhachi made from Edo up through modern times are in most cases made from madake (phyllostachys bambusoides), a bamboo with a wider external diameter.  Unfortunately Kamisango makes no mention of the giant kelp flute -- perhaps one must go back to Jomon and the shell mounds but kelp disintegrates, doesn't it? -- as being one of the ancient flutes but there are flutes made from jade, stone, and ivory in the Shoso-in in addition to those of bamboo.  Five of the flutes were noted to have been received from King Ui-Cha-Wang of the Paekche Dynasty in the mid-7th century as was pointed out earlier on this link; the Shoso-in itself wasn't constructed until the middle of the following century.  For those of you who do manage to get to Nara, make sure to take a look at the main bronze lantern in front of Todaiji temple with its sculpted images of bodhisattvas playing various gagaku instruments, including shakuhachi.

Last edited by Daniel Ryudo (2006-08-13 22:32:48)

I just happened to have a copy of Heibonshas excellent book on Buddhist art at Todaiji within arms reach, so I scanned a few pix and slapped them on my website here:

http://www.tweakshop.com/Todaijilantern.html

Enjoy,

Elliot

Very nice pics, thank you.

H.

That is reassuring Daniel as the grove in my field from which I am making my Shakuhachi is hachiku, phyllostachys nigra. Often referred to as 'inferior', now I can inform my customers of it's longevity.

Kel.