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

Chôshi (Yamato)

調子 (大和)

[Genre]Honkyoku
[School]Chikuho Ryû
[Composed]Tani Kyochiku - Shakuhachi

Chôshi (Yamato) appears on the following albums

Album Artist

Art of the Shakuhachi Vol II Shakuhachi : Mitsuhashi Kifu
This piece was composed by Tani Kyochiku (1882-1950), a student of the Kyushu (Kumamoto prefecture) shakuhachi master Miyagawa Nyozan (1868-1946). Kyochiku was a professional shakuhachi-playing monk who toured not just Japan but also China and other countries. In 1930 he took his long 2.5-shaku (approx 75 cm.) instrument on tour to Hong Kong, Singapore, Sumatra, Burma, and India. At that time his passport identified his occupation merely as a "religious musician."

Kyochiku learned this piece as "Darani" from the Nara shakuhachi performer Murata Sen'o, but when ten years later he performed it for Murata, the latter exclaimed "That is a nice piece, what is it?" This comment, indicating that after ten years the piece had been completely altered, greatly disheartened Kyochiku. He then named what he played "Yamato-joshi" (literally, "melody from Yamato"). Yamato, another name for Nara, was the area in which he had once learned the original composition.

This brief piece features repeated short phrases. In recent years it has been commonly used as a prelude to the piece "Ajikan."

Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi : Nishimura Koku

Hi Fu Mi Shakuhachi : Renkei Hashimoto
Tuning piece (Yamato version)
In the historical province Yamato numerous emperor (Tenno-) residencies existed, i.e., in capital cities, particularly Heijo-kyo (710-784), today Nara. Yamato is said to be Japan's original heartland.
Play ButtonHikyoku wo Saguru Shakuhachi : Nagaoka Kodo
Play ButtonIchion Jobutsu Shakuhachi : Matsumoto Kyozan

Komuso - the Healing Art of Zen Shakuhachi Shakuhachi : Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin

Koten Shakuhachi Gaku Zen Shū - 3 Shakuhachi : Takeuchi Shikō
Play ButtonKyotaku Shakuhachi : Nishimura Koku
A training song from the Yamato area. In this version, Yamato choshi is introduced by Kyo-choshi.

Meian Sōda 明暗双打 volume 4 Shakuhachi : Sakaguchi Tetsushin
Play ButtonPathway Shakuhachi : Robert Herr
Many shakuhachi compositions are attributed to one's aspiration in searching - searching of self, truth, an answer to a question. Yamato Choshi (Yamato prelude) represents an introspection of our relationships with the world around us and a renewing of the soul which allows us to venture forth on the pathway of life. Yamato, the name of the ancient capital of Japan, refers to a beginning - the first steps in the search for enlightenment. The Zen tradition of shakuhachi holds that the shakuhachi plays you as much as you play the shakuhachi. This is a renewing of this relationship between the bamboo and the person, This piece serves as a short prelude or warm-up to a larger honkyoku.
Play ButtonPrayer for the Missing, A Shakuhachi : Bob Seigetsu Avstreih

Searching - Yearning for the Bell Volume 7 Shakuhachi : Riley Kōho Lee
This version of Choshi is believed to have originated in the Yamato district of old Japan, what is now the Nara region, the site of the first capital of Japan, 13 centuries ago. Musically, Yamato Choshi differs greatly from the other Choshi pieces, but it functions in the same meditative and 'searching' way.
Play ButtonShakuhachi - Ryudo - 02 Shakuhachi : Takahashi Ryudo
Play ButtonShakuhachi Koten Honkyoku Shusei - 2 Shakuhachi : Aoki Reibo II

Shakuhachi Ma Shakuhachi : Todd Barton
Play ButtonTake no Shirabe; Fuke Shu Honkyoku Shakuhachi : Yes Yes

The Voice of Bamboo Shakuhachi : Steven Casano
Shakuhachi : Steven Taizen Casano

Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi : John Singer
(Alternate Introduction)