A shakuhachi flute, blowing edge up.

• Left - top view, four holes.
• Right - bottom view, fifth hole.

The shakuhachi (尺八 (しゃくはち), shakuhachi^? IPA: [ɕakɯhatɕi]) is a Japanese end-blown flute which is held vertically like a recorder, instead of transversely like the Western transverse flute. Its name means "1.8 foot", its size. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in wood and plastic. It was used by the monks of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism in the practice of suizen (blowing meditation). Its soulful sound made it popular in Western 1980s pop music. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (880x1500, 130 KB) ファイルの概要 尺八の前面（左）と背面（右）。投稿者が撮影 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Shakuhachi Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (880x1500, 130 KB) ファイルの概要 尺八の前面（左）と背面（右）。投稿者が撮影 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Shakuhachi Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... The end-blown flute is a simple woodwind instrument where the player directs air against the end of a pipe or tube. ... Various recorders The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes — whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle and ocarina. ... This article pertains to the musical instrument. ... For other uses, see Bamboo (disambiguation). ... Fuke Zen (Japanese: 普化禅) was a branch of Zen Buddhism which existed in Japan from the 13th century until the late 19th century. ... For other uses, see Zen (disambiguation). ... Buddhism, a Dharmic faith, is usually considered one of the worlds major religions, with between 230 to 500 million followers. ... Suizen (吹禅) is a Zen practice consisting of playing the shakuhachi bamboo flute as a means of attaining self-realization. ...

Overview

The name shakuhachi means "1.8 foot", from its size. It is a compound of two words:

• shaku (尺, shaku^?) means "foot" (an archaic measure of length), equal to 30.3 centimeters (0.994 of the English foot) and subdivided in ten (not twelve).

• hachi (八, hachi^?) means "eight", here eight sun or tenths of a shaku.

Thus, "shaku-hachi" means "one foot eight" (almost 55 centimeters), the standard length of a shakuhachi. Other shakuhachi vary in length from about 1.3 shaku up to 3.3 shaku. (The longer the shakuhachi, the lower its tuning.) Although the sizes differ, they are all still referred to generically as "shakuhachi". It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Japanese unit. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Japanese unit. ... cm redirects here, alternate uses: cm (disambiguation) A centimetre (symbol cm; American spelling: centimeter) is an SI unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

A shakuhachi showing its utaguchi (歌口, blowing edge) and inlay

A recorder player blows into a duct, a narrow wind-way over a block called a "fipple", and thus has limited pitch control. The shakuhachi player blows as one would blow across the top of an empty bottle (though the shakuhachi has a sharp edge to blow against) and has substantial pitch control. The five finger holes are tuned to a pentatonic scale with no half-tones, but the player can bend each pitch as much as a whole tone or more, using techniques called meri and kari, in which the blowing angle is adjusted to bend the pitch downward and upward, respectively. Pitches may also be lowered by shading or partially covering finger holes. Since most pitches can be achieved via several different fingering or blowing techniques on the shakuhachi, the timbre of each possibility is taken into account when composing or playing. The shakuhachi has a range of two full octaves (the lower is called otsu, the upper, kan) and a partial third octave (dai-kan). The different octaves are produced using subtle variations of breath and embouchure. Download high resolution version (404x632, 35 KB)Japanese shakuhachi Detail of DCM#: 1519 Japanese shakuhachi, End-blown, notched flute Source: Library of congress File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (404x632, 35 KB)Japanese shakuhachi Detail of DCM#: 1519 Japanese shakuhachi, End-blown, notched flute Source: Library of congress File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A fipple mouthpiece uses a narrow windway and a blade-like edge to channel and vibrate air blown into it. ... A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five pitches per octave as compared to the major scale which is made up of seven distinct notes. ... Kari, in shakuhachi music, is both a property of a note and a technique. ... In music, timbre, or sometimes timber, (from Fr. ... The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of a wind instrument. ...

A 1.8 shakuhachi produces D4 (D above Middle C, 293.66Hz) as its fundamental - the lowest note it produces with all five finger holes covered, and a normal blowing angle. In contrast, a 2.4 shakuhachi has a fundamental of A3 (A below Middle C, 220Hz). As the length increases, the spacing of the finger holes also increases, stretching both fingers and technique. Longer flutes often have offset finger holes, and very long flutes are almost always custom made to suit individual players. Some honkyoku, in particular those of the Nezasaha (Kimpu-ryu) school are intended to be played on these longer flutes. Honkyoku (本曲) are the pieces of shakuhachi or hocchiku music played by wandering Japanese Zen monks called Komuso. ...

Much of the shakuhachi's subtlety (and player's skill) lies in its rich tone colouring, and the ability for its variation. Different fingerings, embouchures and amounts of meri can produce notes of the same pitch, but with subtle or dramatic differences in the tone colouring. The honkyoku pieces rely heavily on this aspect of the instrument to enhance their subtlety and depth. The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of a wind instrument. ... Honkyoku (本曲) are the pieces of shakuhachi or hocchiku music played by wandering Japanese Zen monks called Komuso. ...

Shakuhachi are usually made from the root end of a bamboo culm and are extremely versatile instruments. Holes can be covered partially (1/3 covered, 1/2, 2/3, etc.) and pitch varied subtly or substantially by changing the blowing angle. Professional players can produce virtually any pitch they wish from the instrument, and play a wide repertoire of original Zen music, ensemble music with koto, biwa and shamisen, folk music, jazz, and other modern pieces. For other uses, see Bamboo (disambiguation). ... Culm originally referred to a stem of any type of plant. ... For other uses, see Zen (disambiguation). ... Japanese 13-stringed koto The koto (琴 or 箏) is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument derived from Chinese Guqins. ... For other uses, see Biwa (disambiguation). ... Kitagawa Utamaro, Flowers of Edo: Young Womans Narrative Chanting to the Samisen, ca. ...

Due to the skill required, the time involved, and the range of quality in materials to craft bamboo shakuhachi, one can expect to pay from USD 300 to USD 5,000 for a new or used flute. Because each piece of bamboo is unique, shakuhachi cannot be mass-produced, and craftsmen must spend much time finding the correct bore shape for each individual flute to result in correct pitch over all notes. Specimens of extremely high quality, with valuable inlays, or of historical significance can fetch USD 10,000 or more. Plastic or PVC shakuhachi have some advantages over their traditional bamboo counterparts: they are light weight, extremely durable, nearly impervious to heat and cold, and typically cost less than USD 100. Shakuhachi made of wood are also available, typically costing less than bamboo but more than synthetic materials. Nearly all players, however, prefer bamboo, citing tonal qualities, aesthetics, and tradition. USD redirects here. ... PVC redirects here. ...

History

Sketch of a komuso (right) playing shakuhachi

The bamboo flute first came to Japan from China. The shakuhachi proper, however, is quite distinct from its Chinese ^[1] and Korean ancestors^{[citation needed]}, the result of centuries of isolated evolution in Japan. Image File history File links A_begging_criminal-J._M._W._Silver. ... Image File history File links A_begging_criminal-J._M._W._Silver. ... A komusō (Japanese kanji: 虚無僧; Hiragana こむそう) was a mendicant priest of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism. ...

During the medieval period, shakuhachi were most notable for their role in the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhist monks, known as komusō ("priests of nothingness," or "emptiness monks"), who used the shakuhachi as a spiritual tool. Their songs (called "honkyoku") were paced according to the players' breathing and were considered meditation (suizen) as much as music. Fuke Zen (Japanese: 普化禅) was a branch of Zen Buddhism which existed in Japan from the 13th century until the late 19th century. ... A komusō (Japanese kanji: 虚無僧; Hiragana こむそう) was a mendicant priest of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism. ... Honkyoku (本曲) are the pieces of shakuhachi or hocchiku music played by wandering Japanese Zen monks called Komuso. ...

Travel around Japan was restricted by the shogunate at this time, but the Fuke sect managed to wrangle an exemption from the Shogun, since their spiritual practice required them to move from place to place playing the shakuhachi and begging for alms (one famous song reflects this mendicant tradition, "Hi fu mi, hachi gaeshi", "One two three, pass the alms bowl"). They persuaded the Shogun to give them "exclusive rights" to play the instrument. In return, some were required to spy for the shogunate, and the Shogun sent several of his own spies out in the guise of Fuke monks as well. This was made easier by the wicker baskets that the Fuke wore over their heads, a symbol of their detachment from the world. This page is about the Japanese ruler and military rank. ...

In response to these developments, several particularly difficult honkyoku pieces, e.g., Shika no tone, became well-known as "tests": if you could play them, you were a real Fuke. If you couldn't, you were probably a spy and might very well be killed if you were in unfriendly territory.

With the Meiji Restoration, beginning in 1868, the shogunate was abolished and so was the Fuke sect, in order to help identify and eliminate the shogun's holdouts. The very playing of the shakuhachi was officially forbidden for a few years. Non-Fuke folk traditions did not suffer greatly from this, since the tunes could be played just as easily on another pentatonic instrument. However, the honkyoku repertoire was known exclusively to the Fuke sect and transmitted by repetition and practice, and much of it was lost, along with many important documents. The Meiji Restoration ), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japans political and social structure. ... Fuke Zen (Japanese: 普化禅) was a branch of Zen Buddhism which existed in Japan from the 13th century until the late 19th century. ...

When the Meiji government did permit the playing of shakuhachi again, it was only as an accompanying instrument to the koto, shamisen, etc. It was not until later that honkyoku were allowed to be played publicly again as solo pieces. Emperor Mutsuhito Mutsuhito or Mitsuhito (睦仁), the Meiji Emperor (明治天皇, literally wise ruling heaven emperor) (3 November 1852–30 July 1912) was the 122nd Emperor of Japan. ... Japanese 13-stringed koto The koto (琴 or 箏) is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument derived from Chinese Guqins. ... Kitagawa Utamaro, Flowers of Edo: Young Womans Narrative Chanting to the Samisen, ca. ...

Shakuhachi has traditionally been played almost exclusively by men in Japan, although this situation is rapidly changing. Many teachers of traditional shakuhachi music indicate that a majority of their students are women. The 2004 Big Apple Shakuhachi Festival in New York City hosted the first-ever concert of international women shakuhachi masters.

Recordings

New recordings of shakuhachi music are relatively plentiful, especially on Japanese labels and increasingly so in North America, Europe, and Australia. Although the instrument is sometimes considered quaint and outdated in Japan, it is experiencing growth overseas. The primary genres of shakuhachi music are:

• honkyoku (traditional, solo)
• sankyoku (ensemble, with koto and shamisen)
• shinkyoku (new music composed for shakuhachi and koto, commonly post-Meiji era compositions influenced by western music)

Shakuhachi are often used in modern film scores, particularly ones by James Horner. Films in which it is featured prominently include: Legends of the Fall and Braveheart by James Horner, Jurassic Park and its sequels by John Williams and Don Davis, and The Last Samurai by Hans Zimmer and Memoirs of a Geisha by John Williams. Honkyoku (本曲) are the pieces of shakuhachi or hocchiku music played by wandering Japanese Zen monks called Komuso. ... Sankyoku (三曲, often romanized sankyōku) is a three-member Japanese traditional musical ensemble. ... Shinkyoku are modern musical compositions for shakuhachi. ... The Meiji period ), or Meiji era, denotes the 45-year reign of Emperor Meiji, running, in the Gregorian calendar, from 23 October 1868 to 30 July 1912. ... James Roy Horner (born August 14, 1953) is an American composer of orchestral and film music. ... Legends of the Fall is a 1994 film based on the 1979 novella of the same title by Jim Harrison. ... For the moshing term Braveheart, see Wall of death (moshing). ... James Roy Horner (born August 14, 1953) is an American composer of orchestral and film music. ... Jurassic Park is a 1993 science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. ... For other persons named John Williams, see John Williams (disambiguation). ... The name Don Davis may refer to one of the following people: Don S. Davis - an actor who is known for his roles in Stargate SG-1 and Twin Peaks Don Davis - a composer who is known for his scores for films like The Matrix Don Davis - an astronomer who... The Last Samurai is an action/drama film written by John Logan and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz based on a story by Logan. ... Hans Florian Zimmer (born September 12, 1957) is an Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe award-winning film score composer from Germany. ... Memoirs of a Geisha is an Academy Award and Grammy Award-winning movie adaptation of the novel of the same name, produced by Steven Spielbergs Amblin Entertainment and directed by Rob Marshall. ... For other persons named John Williams, see John Williams (disambiguation). ...

Synthesized shakuhachi

The sound of the shakuhachi is also featured in western genres of music, from electronica to pop-rock to jazz music, especially after being commonly shipped as a "preset" instrument on various synthesizers and keyboards beginning in the 1980s^[2]. Here is a short list of well-known tracks from various musical genres where you can hear the sound of an electronic or emulated shakuhachi:

Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. ... Phaedra (1974) is an album by the German electronic music group Tangerine Dream. ... Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. ... Le Parc is an album by electronic artists Tangerine Dream, which was released in May, 1985. ... Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. ... Legend is a soundtrack album released in 1985 by Tangerine Dream for the film Legend. ... Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. ... Legend is a soundtrack album released in 1985 by Tangerine Dream for the film Legend. ... Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk group, formed in Liverpool in 1978. ... Wang Chung is a British New Wave music group. ... To Live and Die in L.A. is a neo-noir American film released in 1985 and directed by William Friedkin. ... The To Live and Die in L.A. Soundtrack is Wang Chungs third album and second on Geffen Records. ... Coil was an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as Jhonn Balance—and his lover Peter Christopherson, aka Sleazy.[1] The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be inspired by... Horse Rotorvator was the second LP released by the British avant-garde group Coil. ... Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950, in Cobham,[1] Surrey, England) is an English musician. ... So is the fifth studio album by British rock musician Peter Gabriel, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music). ... Sledgehammer is a hit song by Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So. ... Coil was an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as Jhonn Balance—and his lover Peter Christopherson, aka Sleazy.[1] The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be inspired by... Gold Is the Metal with the Broadest Shoulders was the third album released by Coil in the year 1987. ... Coil was an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as Jhonn Balance—and his lover Peter Christopherson, aka Sleazy.[1] The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be inspired by... Unnatural History III was the third in a series of three compilation albums by Coil. ... George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English rock musician; singer, bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and composer. ... This article is about the Roger Waters album. ... The rock music group known as And Also The Trees was formed in 1979 in the United Kingdom. ... Helen Folasade Adu (born 16 January 1959), MBE, known professionally as Sade (IPA pronunciation: ), is a Nigerian-born Grammy Award-winning English soul, jazz, R&B, and adult contemporary singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer, noted for her soulful, smoky contralto. ... Stronger Than Pride is the 3rd album by English-Nigerian singer/songwriter Sade. ... The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic rock-pop band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. ... This article is about the musician. ... Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week! was the second album released in October 1989 by the Icelandic alternative rock-pop band The Sugarcubes that brought fame to singer Björk. ... Enigma is an innovative electronic musical project founded by Michael Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. ... MCMXC a. ... Sadeness (Part I) is a 1990 song created by the musical project, Enigma. ... Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. ... Beyond Recall is the twenty-third album by Klaus Schulze. ... David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord, California[1]), better known as Dave Brubeck, is a U.S. jazz pianist. ... Robert Philip Militello, better known as Bobby Militello, Bob Militello, or Bobby M, (born 25 March 1950 in Buffalo, New York) is a U.S. jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. ... Future Sound of London (often abbreviated to FSOL) is a British electronic music band, the duo of Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans. ... Cascade is the first single from Future Sound of Londons 1994 Lifeforms album. ... Future Sound of London (often abbreviated to FSOL) is a British electronic music band, the duo of Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans. ... Lifeforms is a 1994 double album by experimental electronic music group The Future Sound of London. ... Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. ... Richard Wahnfried, then simply Wahnfried after 1993, is the long-time and only real alias for German electronic art music composer and musician Klaus Schulze – originally a pseudonym, later an official side-project name. ... Michael Bolotin (born February 26, 1953), better known as Michael Bolton, is an American singer-songwriter, known for his soft rock ballads and tenor vocals. ... Greatest Hits (1985-1995) is an album by Michael Bolton. ... Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from New Jersey founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo. ... Twilight in Olympus is the fourth studio album by progressive metal band Symphony X, which was released in 1998. ... John Zorn (born September 2, 1953 in Queens, New York) is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. ... The Gift is The Gift (movie) - an American movie, directed by Sam Raimi in 2000. ... Linkin Park is a rock band from Agoura Hills, California. ... Special Edition Cover Special Edition cover Singles from Meteora Released: March 17, 2003 Released: June 9, 2003 Released: September 8, 2003 Released: January 12, 2004 Released: April, 2004 Released: June 14, 2004 Meteora is the second studio album by Linkin Park, first released on March 25, 2003. ... Nobodys Listening is the 11th track of the Linkin Park album Meteora. ... Autumn tears - USA symphonic gothic musical band. ... After four long years of silence, Autumn Tears return with their most epic, conceptual, and fullest neoclassical piece of music they have ever offered. ...

See also

• embouchure
• hocchiku (a similar, less refined, end-blown bamboo flute)
• shakuhachi musical notation
• shakuhachi players (category)
• Quena (a similar flute from South America)

The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of a wind instrument. ... Hocchiku (also, hochiku or hotchiku) is a Japanese end-blown flute carefully crafted from terminal sections of bamboo. ... Shakuhachi musical notation refers to the systems of transcribing playing instructions for shakuhachi music. ... The quena is a South American wind instrument, mostly used by Andean musicians The quena (Quechua: , sometimes also written kena in English) is the traditional flute of the Andes. ...

Sources

This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

References

Fuke Zen (Japanese: 普化禅) was a branch of Zen Buddhism which existed in Japan from the 13th century until the late 19th century. ... Released commercially in 1984, the Emulator II was E-mus second sampler. ... Keyboard Magazine Keyboard Magazine is a Music Magazine covering the Electronic Music Instrument commondly called the Keyboard. ...

External links

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Shakuhachi info links

• Blog of Jon Kypros, shakuhachi player & craftsman Jin Nyodo style.
• Blog of Perry Yung, Professional shakuhachi craftsman and performer. Photos of all aspects of traditional shakuhachi repairs and vintage restorations.
• Archive of articles about the shakuhachi
• Shakuhachi Playing Tips from Kakizakai Kaoru
• An online calculator for the positioning of the holes while constructing a Shakuhachi - German
• Shakuhachi in Federal Prison
• Open Directory Project - Shakuhachi
• Shakuhachi playing tips from Phil Nyokai James
• The Shakuhachi Blog - News & Information (updated regularly)
• Shakuhachi Chamber Music International, including the 'Register of Compositions' a database of new compositions for shakuhachi with western instruments

Shakuhachi groups links

• Myspace Shakuhachi Community
• Listing of Shakuhachi Schools and Organizations
• International Shakuhachi Society
• Shakuhachi Society of British Columbia
• Seattle Shakuhachi Society
• Australian Shakuhachi Society
• Shakuhachi Mailing List web archive
• ShakuhachiForum.com — world shakuhachi discussion