is the Japanese word for bamboo flute, and refers to a class of flutes native to Japan. come in many varieties, but are generally high-pitched and made of a bamboo called . [1] The most popular of the is the .
are traditionally broken up into two basic categories – the transverse flute and the end-blown flute.[2] Transverse flutes are held to the side, with the musician blowing across a hole near one end; end-blown flutes are held vertically and the musician blows into one end.[3]
The earliest may have developed from pitch pipes known as in Chinese.[4] The instrument eventually made its way over to Japan from China in the 5th century,[5] becoming prevalent during the Nara Period.
Soon after the introduction of instruments, members of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism made normal use of the . These "priests of nothingness" viewed the instruments as spiritual tools, using them for, or "blowing meditation".[6] Modern performance may feature a soloist or involve either a chamber or large ensemble of the instruments.
Japanese include many different varieties of Japanese flute, including the following:
| Image | Name | Type | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| End-blown | One of the most popular and oldest of the Japanese | |||
| End-blown | Made from the same material as the | |||
| End-blown | A unique in that it is a double reed instrument. | |||
| Transverse | Traditional | |||
| Transverse | This is for, a type of music used for dances associated with Imperial Court music. | |||
| Transverse | Used in Japanese music seeming to have a Chinese origin. Its sound is said to represent the ascension of dragons. | |||
| Transverse | A flute used in the Noh theatre and ensembles. | |||
| Transverse | Also called the bamboo flute, it is used for, the background music used in kabuki theatre. | |||
| Transverse | This is used in a type of Japanese music called . At long, it is the longest . | |||
| (also known as the) | Transverse | Used in ceremony. The sympathetically vibrating membrane, such as on a Chinese, is visible in the photograph between the embouchure hole and finger holes. |