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History:

One of the most prominent schools within the Myoan-Ha, is the Taizan-ryu. It was founded by Higuchi “Kodo” Taizan (1856-1914) who first was a student of the Seien style Shakuhachi and in 1890 went to Kyoto where he joined the Myoan Society becoming an instructor. He spent much of his time collecting and organizing pieces from the Myoan tradition as well as many others. His outstanding talents as a player and his work expanding the repertoire of the Myoan Society revitalized the Myoan tradition. He is called “the founder of the restoration of the Myoan-ha”. “Kodo” compiled the Honkyoku that is currently used in the Myoan-Ha today. He became the 35th Kanshu of the temple Myoanji.

Myoan-ji temple in Kyoto was founded by Kyochiku Zenji, Myoan-ji was and is a prominent and influential center of Shakuhachi musicianship. The factors prompting Myoanji to concentrate on music(and by extension the Zen philosophy that might in form such an interest) were, in addition to the political importance of the temple, the high-culture tradition of Kyoto and the conservative perspective of Myoan-ji’s leaders vis-à-vis, art, religion and politics. Thus, in general, as Edo gradually became the center of a movement of popularized shakuhachi music, Myoan-ji continued to explore and refine a much more metaphysical Zen style. The stronger commitment to the musical tradition at Myoan-ji did not prevent the eventual inclusion of townsmen as ‘temporary’ Komuso or ‘musical helpers’, it is true, but it assured that the quality of the musicianship was first rate and that it followed fairly conventional lines. Several of the “abbots” of Myoan-ji were, infact, extremely accomplished musicians who gathered around them coteries of master players. A chronological list of head kanshu of Myoan-ji temple follows



1. Shinshi Hoto Kokushi 21.Minzan Zenji
2. Kaiso Kochiku Zenji 22. missing from list
3. Kaizan Tengai Zenji 23. Seizan (no title given)
4. Ungai Zenko Shuza 24. ? (could not translate)
5. Joun Shuza 25. Mindo Shizan
6. Kokugai Shuza 26. Seizan Shuza
7. Dozan Shuza 27. Kugai Shuza
8. Seizan Shuza 28. Tengen Shuza
9. Togetsu Shuza 29. Kuzan Dai Toku
10. Shugetsu Shuza 30. Shinga Shizan
11. Ganryo Shuza 31. Togaku Zenji
12. Shingetsu Shuza 32. Kendo Zenji
13. Kangetsu Shuza 33. Rodo Zenji
14. Yoshin Shizu 34. Gendo Shuza
15. Engetsu Zenji 35. Higuchi Taizan Kodo
16. Gasan Zenji 36. Kobayoshi Jido Shizan
17. Itsushitsu Zenji 37. Tanikita Muchiku Roan
18. Kaizan Zenji 38. Koizumi Shizan Ryoan
19. Kondo Zenji 39. Fukumoto Konsai Kyoan
20. Seiza Zenji 40. Yoshimura Fuan Shoshin
41. Kojima Isus



After some effort the present Myoan-ji temple was established in 1890, the new temple is considered the spiritual home of Shakuhachi playing today.


Information compiled from email correspondence with Norman Stanfield Ph.D. (ABD)

And Christopher Yohmei Blasdel’s “The Shakuhachi a manual for learning” and “ Shakuahachi Zen the Fukeshu and Komuso” by James Sanford. List of Kanshu of Myoan-ji Temple translated from a book by Tomimori Kyozan by Morimasa Horiuchi

Edited Jeffrey Jones

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Ho Gyo Koku 鳳叫虚空	Kokû 虚空	Koro Sugagaki 転菅垣	Kosho Koku 虎嘯虚空
Kumoi Jishi 雲井獅子	Kyorei 虚鈴	Kyotaku 鳳鐸	Kyushu Reibo 九州鈴慕
Monbiraki 門閲	Monkai no Kyoku	Mukaiji 霧海箎	Mutsu Reibo 陸奥鈴慕
Oshu Nagashi 奥州流	Reibo Maebuki	Renbo Nagashi 恋慕流	Ryugin Koku 龍吟虚空
Sakai Jishi 栄獅子	San'ya 三谷	San'ya no Kyoku 三谷の曲	Shika no Tone 鹿の遠音
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Tsukushi Reibo 筑紫鈴慕	Tsuru no Sugomori 鶴の巣籠	Yoshitsune Reibo	Yoshiya 善哉