What are shakuhachi?
Shakuhachi are oblique or vertically held flutes with five finger-holes tune to the minor pentatonic scale. To make them, craftspeople like me most often use bamboo. However, we’ve utilized many other materials stretching all the way back to the ancestral Chinese instruments.
Additionally, they’re the only melodic musical instruments which some associate with Buddhism. This connection is via the Samurai-turned-Komuso monks of the Edo period (1603-1867 AD). Of course, there are other things which set them apart; their essence as flutes or musical instruments. Next, I’m going to share with you what makes a shakuhachi a shakuhachi.
The essence of shakuhachi
Undoubtedly, we can hear that shakuhachi are sonically flexible flutes in the right hands. Yet, they’re minimalistic by design, but not simplistic. Unlike silver flutes, the shakuhachi has no keys to cover its minimal five finger-holes. These large open finger-holes allow us to partially cover them for microtonality or chromaticism, taps, cuts and rolls. Similarly, shakuhachi don’t have a mouthpiece with an air-way to direct our breath like recorders and whistles. Rather, they feature a deceptively simple looking angle cut at the top. This cut forms the sharp blowing edge or utaguchi.
While it’s far more difficult to play, this edge allows us to explore the sound. We do this via the subtle shaping of our lips or embouchure in relation to our air-speed or breath. We can also change the distance between our lips and the edge which affects the pitch. In this way, we can make the absolute most out of its minimalist form. Lastly, traditional shakuhachi possess tapered or conical inner bores, as opposed to cylindrical bore flutes.
Shaku sizes & pitch
Click the drop down arrows to get answers to these common questions
What does “shaku-hachi” mean?
The shaku 尺 or ‘Japanese foot’ is an antiquated unit of length that’s 30.3 centimeters or 11.9 inches. Hachi is simply the number 8. Shaku-hachi is an abbreviation of ichi-shaku hachi-sun, or ‘one-foot and eight-inches’ (about 54.5 cm). Since this is the standard size, shakuhachi is often used as an umbrella term to refer to all sizes
How does pitch come into play?
The longer the flute, the deeper the pitch. The lowest note is determined by the total length and the finger-holes are tuned to match it. For example, a 2.4 is longer and deeper than a 1.8.
Origins of the shakuhachi
Japanese people imported shakuhachi from China during the Nara period (710-794 AD). These flutes were a part of the court music ensemble called Gagaku 雅楽, as it’s translated from Chinese into Japanese.
Chinese people crafted these flutes from bamboo poles, wood, stone, and ivory. They were also shorter at approximately 1.08 shaku in length or 32.7 cm / 12.8 in. That’s 22 cm or 8.7 in shorter than the current standard of 1.8 at 54.5 cm or 21.5 in long.
The shakuhachi would see other variations and evolutions. For example, they were not initially crafted from root end bamboo. Rather, they were made from the upper portions of the bamboo stalk. It took nearly a thousand years for Japanese craftspeople to utilize the root end (8th c. to 17th c.).
Madaké bamboo and shakuhachi construction
Just like the flute, Madaké 真竹 bamboo is also native to China. Japanese people imported the first live Madaké plants from Zhejiang province (710-794 AD). For over a thousand years, craftspeople have primarily used Madaké bamboo for crafting shakuhachi musical instruments. This is because of its favorable characteristics and its abundance within China and Japan.
For instance, it typically grows very straight with good distances between the nodes for finger-hole placement (internodal spacing). The first meter of the stalk can also have a nice inner taper to the bore. This taper is essential for the correct sound and feeling. In my experience, its most supreme gift is variety; the myriad voices of nature. These voices are exemplified by Jinashi and Jimori type shakuhachi instruments, such as the ones I craft. This is because they preserve the natural inner bamboo bores.
The Komuso monks and Honkyoku
The Komuso 虚無僧 were former Samurai who turned to a life of mendicancy during the Edo period (1603 to 1868). In fact, most had been previously rendered masterless or Ronin. Unsurprisingly, much of the progress in shakuhachi instrument construction and playing was made by them. Notably, they popularized the root end and they composed the largest body of solo flute music in the world, known as Honkyoku 本曲. Of course, these pieces are considered by many to be spiritual or meditative. All across Japan, they developed distinct regional styles.
Shakuhachi in our time
Increasingly, more people are learning about the shakuhachi all around the world. Of course, this is thanks to the efforts of dedicated practitioners but also via manga, anime, and video games. For example, the game Ghost of Tsushima became the first to have the shakuhachi as an actionable accessory and features the flute in its soundtrack.
In the end, the history of the shakuhachi is a testament to the enduring human spirit. Despite hardships and even persecution, many shakuhachi players remained committed to their practice. In so doing, they inspired generations. Indeed, we each keep the flame alive every time we pick up our shakuhachi. Even if we don’t get a sound…
