I asked an ex-Komuso to take me on Shugyo (aesthetic training)

[@DerbyJammer]

I've never seen anything like this series before. If not unique it has to be rare. Mostly I have seen Komuso at festivals or in urban settings playing for alms. To walk with one is extraordinary! You've even included the view from the perspective through the reeds. I finally get it! When you are walking thru the forest the sound is not coming from you, even though I know who is under the Tengai. Beyond that, the sound is not even coming from the flute. It becomes as much of the moment and environment as the wind or the sound of the crow.

[@alexcarter8807]

Well essentially that's what komuso did; they played for alms. They were generally samurai who sold their swords in exchange for a license to play for alms.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Where is the double like button?

[@jeanpierrecarpentier]

💚💖💛 🙏This one almost felt like a pilgtimage to me,, a timeless pacing impression,, a certain sense of ''déjà-vu'' ,, my own spirit walking alongside, trying to blend it's inner sound texture , to yours😇

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

[@kaisermuto]

In 1950~60s I saw komuso standing play shakuhachi in front of street house. But not many times. Now it is rare to see them.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@kaisermuto The last true Komuso died a long time ago. But people who continue the tradition. They’re around but as you said very few

[@kaisermuto]

@@TairyuShakuhachi Every body can be a komuso who decided himself to train the way. Even now komuso exists and he has a professsion to live. No body decide true komuso or not is nonsense. Komuso is a kind of buddhist and zen monk. But komuso was allowed to have long hair They were half monk and half samurai. In Tokugawa era the government ordered komuso style as well as present costume.

[@MsEnglishtea]

They are very mysterious. I have so many questions about them. I'm writing a story of a Komuso monk, what were their diets, how did they travel, were they allowed to travel on horseback or did they just walk as they beautifully played the flute, do they remove the tengai at night to see better, did they ever own swords back in the day? Did they look for work so that they get lodging and meals? Sorry if I got carried away with the questions. I did try looking online but there was little information about them.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Diets: well they were begged monks, so probably whatever people gave them. Lots of veggies and rice. Travel: by foot. No horses. Tengai was removed when they came to people or holy grounds. They stopped traveling at dark because it isn’t safe to walk then in japan. It’s pitch black especially with no modern lights. They owned a short sword. It was about the same length of their shakuhachi. They did begging, I don’t think they ever tried working for room and meal. There isn’t a lot of information on them because most of their temples were burned down on Meiji.

[@MsEnglishtea]

@@TairyuShakuhachi gosh thank you!! I am so grateful for the info you've given. I think it's terrible that their temple was burnt down. It would have been wonderful to know more about them.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@MsEnglishtea I have some old documents about them but I haven’t gotten around to translate them yet. They are in Classical Japanese. There are a couple other recourses too. I would start here zen-shakuhachi.dk

[@MsEnglishtea]

@@TairyuShakuhachi wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing this.😃

[@Metroidprimevzz]

There's a video game called mystical ninja for super Nintendo they have these guys on them but they attack you lol

[@dengokiburi2719]

The locations you go and music mix together

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Thank you!

[@alexcarter8807]

Ahh yes, the broken zori experience. Grew up in Hawaii and knew it well. (Actually we did our hiking barefoot but it was warm weather there.)

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Yeah it sucked but I was even closer to nature. ;-)

[@shaggythewriter8185]

Japanese groundhog Saw his shadow, hid again But winter is kind 🙂

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

[@louisdelmar6853]

Absolutely incredible video!!!

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Thanks so much!

[@namesj2242]

Love your music!

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Thank you so much!

[@jeanpierrecarpentier]

Beautiful and very interesting video

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@urfan7850]

Komuso Monks are very interesting. Thanks for the video Note: I was here...

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

[@theoverthinckingboii6215]

Amazing!!!!

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@maximusprime8585]

聞いてて本当に美しい。 瞑想やマインドフルネスに最適です👺👺🤗🤗

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

コメント感謝いたします

[@lognomelchorambas5364]

I first see this in the movie The Yakuza

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@lognomelchorambas5364 Surprisingly they show up in quite a few video games and movies. Would love to see the make more appearances

[@rollycabrita8129]

Any precautions for the flute in cold weather?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

yes, play it ;-)

[@user-wb2eh2ml2l]

Are you able to stop and drink water if you need to rest during the walk?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Technically no but I had water in my bag

[@user-wb2eh2ml2l]

@@TairyuShakuhachi wow, sounds like it could be brutal. How long are their hikes typically? Do they usually have a destination in mind, or is it mostly wandering?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@user-wb2eh2ml2l well today it’s totally different but back then who knows. Super long I’d reckon. Depends on the person really

[@battlestar976]

What’s it like wearing that thing on your head? What purpose dose it serve?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Annoying and it has a lot of purposes!

[@battlestar976]

@@TairyuShakuhachi like what?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@battlestar976 preventing the wind from hitting the blowing edge of the shakuhachi disrupting the sound

[@battlestar976]

@@TairyuShakuhachi would you do this again given the opportunity?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@battlestar976 I have done it many times and I still go out and hike and play monthly if not weekly. I went yesterday actually. Not in full gear but yeah I would.