The Rhythm Divine

Japan in the 16th century was in the grip of civil war. Feudal lords fought each other for the right to rule, and bandits roamed the countryside. Yet out of this turmoil came a Zen sect with a tradition of music as spiritual practice whose influence continues today. They were the Fuke sect, and the monks of this Rinzai lineage became famous as the komuso, the Zen Priests of Nothingness. Drawn from the ranks of masterless samurai, the komuso were renowned for their skill in playing the Japanese bamboo flute, the shakuhachi.

Dress in white robes with short swords, they wore tall basket-shaped hats over their heads to suppress their identity and their ego. The repertoire created by the komuso was known as the honkyoku, 'original pieces'. More than just music of great beauty, these pieces were considered to be part of a spiritual practice, a Zen practice, and the act of playing them came to be called suizen, blowing meditation.

First broadcast 30 March 2007.

Further Information

The International Shakuhachi Society
The International Shakuhachi Society is a world forum for people interested in the Japanese bamboo flute.

Tai Hei Shakuhachi
This site is a total resource for Shakuhachi - the traditional Japanese bamboo flute. You can view old photos of the komuso here as well.

The Zen Priests of Nothingness
A radio documentary in the Encounter series on ABC Radio National, broadcast 1 April 2007. Our search takes us to Nakano in Tokyo where we meet one of Japan's greatest living shakuhachi masters, Katsuya Yokoyama, and to the spiritual centre of the Fuke sect in Kyoto, Myoanji, the Temple of Light and Darkness. Other guests include the Zen priest at Myoanji, Eko Hirosomi; shakuhachi masters Yoshio Kurahashi in Kyoto, Christopher Yohmei Blasdel in Tokyo and Jim Franklin in Sydney; the world's first non-Japanese shakuhachi Grandmaster Riley Lee; and an American Grandmaster from New York City, Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin. We also hear from a student of the shakuhachi, Margaret Tung, in Sydney.

Music

CD title: Visionary Tones
Track title: Shigure
Artist: Christopher Yohmei Blasdel
Composer: Yuji Takahashi
CD details: Bright One Records R 0420250
URL: http://www2.gol.com/users/yohmei/Ebottom.htm

CD title: Breath-Sight
Track title: Tamuke
Artist: Riley Lee
Composer: trad.
CD details: Tall Poppies TP 015
URL: http://www.rileylee.net/
This CD is one of a series of seven by Riley known collectively as Yearning for the Bell on the Tall Poppies label.

CD title: Katsuya Yokoyama Plays Shakuhachi Vol 1
Track title: San-an
Artist: Katsuya Yokoyama
Composer: trad.
CD details: Euros OCD 0911
URL: http://www.komuso.com/people/Yokoyama_Katsuya.html

CD title: Jewish Favorites
Track title: Ma Nishtana
Artist: Rachel Van Voorhees
Composer: trad.
CD details: Centaur CRC 2317

Presenter

Geoff Wood

Producer

Geoff Wood