尺八(しゃくはち)

しゃくはち
noun
shakuhachi
1. shakuhachi, Japanese bamboo flute
A traditional Japanese end-blown bamboo flute, known for its meditative, breathy tone.
尺八(しゃくはち)を吹(ふ)く。
I play the shakuhachi.
尺八(しゃくはち)の音色(ねいろ)は心(こころ)が落(お)ち着(つ)く。
The sound of the shakuhachi is calming.
虚無僧(こむそう)は尺八(しゃくはち)を吹(ふ)きながら托鉢(たくはつ)した。
Komusō monks begged for alms while playing shakuhachi.
Historical context

NAME ORIGIN: 尺八(しゃくはち) literally means "one shaku and eight sun" (approximately 54.5 cm), the standard length of the instrument.

CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Made of madake bamboo (真竹(まだけ))
  • End-blown (not side-blown like Western flutes)
  • Five finger holes (4 front, 1 back)
  • Breathy, meditative tone

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
Originally associated with 虚無僧(こむそう) (Fuke Zen Buddhist monks) who played shakuhachi as a form of meditation (吹禅(すいぜん)).

GENRES:

  • 邦楽(ほうがく) (traditional Japanese music)
  • 三曲(さんきょく) (ensemble with koto and shamisen)

[Register: Neutral]

Related Words

Related: 三味線(しゃみせん) (shamisen)
general
Added 2026.1.14 23:59 · Revised 2026.6.1 3:10
04000/04465_shakuhachi