Muroji--When Two Komuso Meet

On the road to Muroji, one of the most scenic mountain temples in Japan

J.R. Mutake plays at the moon bridge entrance to the Muroji grounds

Crossing over into Muroji.

Playing at the first gate.

Playing on the path to the main gate.

The ticket office.  Note the container of free hiking sticks at the corner. 

The main gate of Muroji.

J.R. Mutake introduces himself to Masutani Showza, resident komuso of Muroji.

The honkyoku played. please click through to youtube video.

Looking back at the gate.

Climbing the first set of stairs.  J.R. Mutake will climb the mountain with a tengai in one hand and a shakuhachi in the other, as part of his Shugyo training.

Looking back on the first flight of stairs.

Another flight of stairs.

Which leads to another flight of stairs down...

Looking back up.

Side trip to a Jizo Shrine.

Jizo

And then the long flight to the peak.

The support beams of the moutain top temple in sight.

The view from the balcony.

Panorama of the temple support and final climb.

Back down sure-footed like a mountain goat and out the gate.

Overview of the climb.

Leaving Muroji at the bus stop, visitors asked the Komuso to play.

Please visit komuso Masutani Shoza at beautiful Muroji.

The Komuso play beautifully, please contribute for the temple.

1935 Nara Park Komuso

The Deer in the Park

And then there were three...

Autumn Leaves

Light and Dark Again

The Long March

A Tradition Renews

Assembling in the centre of the temple the participants have their minds cleansed by listening to the Dharma-bamboo of their leader. It was originally a sub-school of the Zen-tradition. That is the cause for (talking about/teaching) giving oneself over to one single bamboo and striving for the realm of ri-ji-mu-ge (Ultimate truth and the phenomenal world are interpenetrating each other without any disturbance.)

The Oldest Shakuhachi in Japan, 1200 Years Ago

From the Shoso-in collection of Emperor Shomu, Nara.

Shakuhachi 1: Dimensions: L. 40.7, D. of mouthpiece 2.3.   Materials & Techniques: Madake (long-jointed bamboo).

Shakuhachi 2: Dimensions: L. 39.3, D. of mouthpiece 2.3.Materials & Techniques: Madake (long-jointed bamboo).

Shakuhachi 3: Dimensions: L. 35.1, D. of mouthpiece 2.3.Materials & Techniques: Ivory.

Shakuhachi 4 of carved stone: Dimensions: L. 35.9, D. of mouthpiece 2.4.  Materials & Techniques: Serpentine.

Shakuhachi 5 with engraved decoration: Dimensions: L. 43.7, D. of mouthpiece 2.3.  Materials & Techniques: Madake (long-jointed bamboo).

Shakuhachi 6 wound with kabanoki (birch tree) bark: Dimensions: L. 38.5, D. of mouthpiece 2.2. Materials & Techniques: Madake (long-jointed bamboo)

Shakuhachi 7: Dimensions: L. 38.2, D. of mouthpiece 2.3. Materials & Techniques: Madake (long-jointed bamboo).

Shakuhachi 8: Dimensions: L. 34.4, D. of mouthpiece 2.0. Materials & Techniques: Marble.

Larger Bamboo

Tsukamoto Returns

Tikusen

Také Ocean‏

Kaiyō  海洋 Ocean

 Take 竹 Bamboo

Mutake Now

2016

Komuso 1964

Postcard caption.