Shakuhachi

Japanese music · bamboo instrument · wind flute

Ancient bamboo flute. The shakuhachi is a long, thick bamboo flute that you play by blowing into the end, just like a recorder. It came from China originally, but Japan created the version we know today in the 16th century.

Made from nature. The shakuhachi is carved from a single piece of bamboo, which gives it a warm, mellow sound that feels both peaceful and mysterious. The bamboo's natural shape and thickness matter a lot for how it sounds.

Golden age in Edo. The shakuhachi became super popular during Japan's Edo period in the 1700s, when musicians played it in temples and for important people. It was such a big part of Japanese culture that many people thought it was invented there originally.

Unique finger holes. The shakuhachi has four finger holes on the front and one hole on the back for your thumb, giving it a smaller range than earlier flutes but better sound quality. Musicians create different notes by covering these holes in special combinations.

Music of monks. Wandering Buddhist monks called komusо played the shakuhachi as part of their spiritual practice, and the music they played became some of the most respected flute pieces in the world.