shakuhachi

English - English

Definition of shakuhachi in English English dictionary

A Japanese flute which is tuned to a pentatonic scale is end-blown like a recorder instead of being held transversely like the Western transverse flute, originally used by Zen Buddhist Monks of the 普化禅 (ふけぜん, fuke zen) sect in the practice of 吹禅 (すいぜん, suizen, “blowing meditation”)

Japanese end-blown bamboo flute. Its notes are produced by blowing across the open upper end, resulting in a distinctively breathy tone. It has five fingerholes. The shakuhachi is of great antiquity; it has been widely played as a solo instrument and in small ensembles, especially with the koto and samisen (a fretless lute)

A Japanese flute which is tuned to a pentatonic scale is end-blown like a recorder instead of being held transversely like the Western transverse flute, originally used by Zen Buddhist Monks in the practice of blowing meditation (Suizen)

Etymology

() Borrowed from Japanese 尺八 (shakuhachi), from 尺 (shaku, an archaic measure of length approximately equal to 30 centimeters) + 八 (hachi), meaning "eight".