Home People Pieces Recordings Bibliography Schools Glossary Sites & Events Teachers Join the ISS Log In

Reibo - In memory of the bell

Reibo - In memory of the bell

"This recording was Nyogetsu's first CD recording, and it is also his only international recording, published by the Japanese company Image Box. It contains all of Nyogetsu's favorite Honkyoku pieces, as at the time of the recordings, he wasn't aware that he ever would record another."

Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
AIB 94001

Track Title Kanji Length Artist
1  Play Button Choshi (Don't know which version) 調子 03'25 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
This honkyoku is played simply, without any unusual techniques, but yet is quite profound. The word "choshi" means tone, condition or state of mind. It refers to the essential unity and harmony of the universe, or to the state of mind when heaven, earth, and man are perceived as one.
2  Play Button Reibo (Futaiken) 霊慕 (布袋軒) 09'19 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
These is legend to the effect that Fuke Zenji, the founder of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty in China, used to ring a bell in his hand as he walked. "Reibo" is said to be composed in his memory, and the music to represent the sound of that ringing bell. It is a honkyoku which is often played at funerals, and though it has a melancholy quality, the piece also expresses gratitude and a wish for the safe passage of the soul from this world. There are many versions of "Reibo", such as the famous "Koku Reibo" ("Bell Ringing from an Empty Sky"), but this particular one comes from Futaiken, a temple in a northern area of Japan known as Sendai.
3  Play Button Reibo (Shôganken) 霊慕 (松巌軒) 10'59 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
This version of "Reibo" comes from a temple in Shogan Prefecture, an area of Japan now known as Sendai. It has variously been called "Sendai Reibo," "Miagi Reibo" or "Oushu Reibo".
4  Play Button Murasaki Reibo 紫鈴慕 05'24 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
This piece has been attributed to the great Zen Buddhist monk, Ikkyu Zenji (also popularly known as Ikkyu-san) who lived about 400 years ago. He was known for his great intelligence, and especially for his ability to see the simple, natural way of things.
This piece compares the nature of people and clouds. It is said that the alternating movement and stillness of clouds are truly in the spirit of nature. So too, should people imitate the clouds and know when it is time to move and when it is time to be still.
"Shrinpo" (also known as "Murasaki-Reibo") is a Meian honkyoku from Daitokuji temple in Kyoto. It is played with the intention of creating an overall feeling of peacefulness.
5  Play Button San'ya (Jinbo) 神保三谷 08'29 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
"Sanya" is a 400-year old honkyoku, expressing a free-floating, boundary-less Zen state in which there is no longer any up or down, left or right. It also refers to being unified in action, or to pure action from the heart rather than from the head. This particular version of Sanya was played by a komuso, or wandering priest, named Jinbo, who devoted his whole life to the perfection of this one piece.
6  Play Button San'ya (Futaiken) 鈴慕 (布袋軒) 08'00 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
This version of the honkyoku "Sanya" comes from Futaiken, a temple in the area of Sendai, which lies five hours north of Tokyo. It is said that playing Sanya is helpful in easing childbirth.
7  Play Button San'ya (Echigo) 三谷 (越後) 08'28 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
This particular version of Sanya comes form Echigo, the old name for Nigata Prefecture, on the northern coast of Honshu.
8  Play Button Ajikan (Itchoken) 阿字観 06'57 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
Of all honkyoku, this one is most often played in Zen temples. It comes originally from Itcho-ken Temple in Hakata (Fukuoka Prefecture) on the island of Kyushu.
The music is supposed to represent the Zen concept of "seeing with the heart" as opposed to normal seeing with one's eyes. The "a" of the title Ajikan refers to Zen priests in meditation: the "ji" represents the primary or original sound: and the word "kan" means "to see". Thus, this honkyoku is about "seeing the original sound", a special sort of vision that is associated with enlightenment.
9  Play Button Jakushin 寂心 03'37 Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
"The Solitary Heart". This composition is the only honkyoku composed by Kurahashi Yodo, the shakuhachi master who gave Ki-Sui-An its name and conferred upon its head, Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin, the title of Dai-Shihan. Kurahashi Sensei composed this piece over a period of about five years. Although there are two written versions in existence, this version has been faithfully copied from recording of Kurahashi Sensei's last performance of it before his death.
The work "Jyaku" in the title refers to the death of a Buddhist priest, who calmly and silently exits this world for the world of Nirvana beyond, leaving behind his grieving followers, who are filled with thoughts of loneliness and desolation.