rssPrecursors of the shakuhachi
| Gagaku shakuhachi | Tempuku | Hitoyogiri | Miyogiri | Fuke shakuhachi | Modern shakuhachi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos | 
| 
| 
| |||
| Dates | 7th to 9th century in gagaku, then decline. | 12th century- | Muromachi to Edo eras (1392-) | 17th century to present. | 17th century to present. | 20th century to present. |
| History | Used in the gagaku ensemble, the ancient court music of Japan. | Popular in the Satsuma area of Kyushu (present day Kagoshima-ken). | Used by the komosō but mostly associated with secular music. | Associated with the komosō. | Used by the komusō, monks from the Fuke sect of Zen buddhism. | Used both for Zen practice and secular genres such as sankyoku, shinkyoku and gendaikyoku. |
| Standard length | 34.35-44.4cm | 30cm | 33.6cm | 50cm | 54.5cm | 54.5cm |
| Bamboo type | Made in variety of materials from bamboo (hachiku) to jade, stone and ivory. | Hotei chiku | Madake | Madake | Madake | Madake |
| Position of utaguchi | Upper part of bamboo. | Upper part of bamboo. | Lower part of bamboo (towards the root). | Upper part of bamboo. | Upper part of bamboo. | Upper part of bamboo. |
| Utaguchi design | Arc-shaped notch, similar to modern shakuhachi. | Utaguchi shaped from inside. | Arc-shaped notch, similar to modern shakuhachi. | Arc-shaped notch, similar to modern shakuhachi. | Arc-shaped notch, similar to modern shakuhachi. | Many contain inserts of buffolo horn or ivory. |
| Number of nodes | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3+ | Variety of node number. | Standard is 7 |
| Number of holes | 5-1 | 4-1 | 4-1 | 4-1 | 4-1 | 4-1 (also 7 and 9) |
| Other factors | Fingerholes are slightly oval. | Small holes and thick bamboo. | Root end of the bamboo began to be used for bottom of shakuhachi. | Filler becomes popular to inhance tuning and response. |
Shakuhachi precursors bibliography
Kô, Tanimura 1996 Encyclopedia of Musical Instruments: The Shakuhachi. Tôkyô: Ongaku no Tomo Sha Edition.
Lee, Riley 1992 The Transmission of the Shakuhachi Honkyoku. Published thesis.
Sanford, James H. 1977 “Shakuhachi Zen: the Fukeshû and Komusô.” Monumenta Nipponica 32/4.
Tono, Haruyuki 1992 Kentoshi no Shôsôin. Tôkyô: Iwanami Shoten.
Links
Many thanks to Vlastislav Matousek, Czech shakuhachi player and composer for the photos of the hitoyogiri and tempuku.