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Darani

陀羅尼

[Genre]Honkyoku
[School]Myoan Shinpo Ryû
[Also Known As]San'ya no Kyoku (Shinpo Ryu), Kyoto Myoanji Darani, Konpon Darani, San'ya-kyoku

History (Jin Nyodo):

Kyoto Myoan-ji: DARANI

1. About the title:

The name Darani (in Chinese characters) is a phonetic representation of the Sanskrit dharani. The original meaning refers to the upholding and preservation of the "way" of goodness and the obstruction of the "way" of evil. It is a piece which (seemingly) chants the long Sanskrit text as is. In reciting this text one sustains one's immense and infinite spiritual duty, overcomes all kinds of obstacles and attains various virtues, In the tradition of Myoan Shinpo-ryu the piece is also called Konpon ("basic") Darani or San'ya-kyoku.

2. Structure of the piece

The piece is in a two-part form, the latter half being called Ho-no-kyoku ("Piece of the Law / Way"). This latter section is played in a fast tempo with a marked rhythm.

3. Special features of the piece:

The second half begins at a tempo so different that the listener is apt to think that a new piece has begun. At last it returns to the tempo and rhythm of the first half. It is a piece that has a feeling of deep loneliness in the midst of serenity.

Darani appears on the following albums

Album Artist
Play ButtonAki no Yugure (Autumn Dusk) Shakuhachi : Kurahashi Yōdō II

Heart of Zen - Simplicity Shakuhachi : Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin

Ichi on Buttsu - One sound Enlightenment Shakuhachi : Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
This piece comes from the Meian Temple in Kyoto, which was headquarters for the Fuke sect during the Edo period (1603-1868). The ideographs for Meian, or Yin and Yang (dark and light), were often worn on the chests of the komuso. This honkyoku gives one the feeling and image of a strong, powerfull Buddha.
Play ButtonJin Nyodo No Shakuhachi 05 Shakuhachi : Jin Nyodo
Kyoto Myoan-ji: DARANI

2-shaku 5-sun
6 min. 32 sec.

1. About the title:

The name Darani (in Chinese characters) is a phonetic representation of the Sanskrit dharani. The original meaning refers to the upholding and preservation of the "way" of goodness and the obstruction of the "way" of evil. It is a piece which (seemingly) chants the long Sanskrit text as is. In reciting this text one sustains one's immense and infinite spiritual duty, overcomes all kinds of obstacles and attains various virtues, In the tradition of Myoan Shinpo-ryu the piece is also called Konpon ("basic") Darani or San'ya-kyoku.

2. Structure of the piece

The piece is in a two-part form, the latter half being called Ho-no-kyoku ("Piece of the Law / Way"). This latter section is played in a fast tempo with a marked rhythm.

3. Special features of the piece:

The second half begins at a tempo so different that the listener is apt to think that a new piece has begun. At last it returns to the tempo and rhythm of the first half. It is a piece that has a feeling of deep loneliness in the midst of serenity.

Mountain Hermit's Secret Wisdom Shakuhachi : Cornelius Shinzen Boots
Play ButtonSui Zen - Blowing Meditation on the Shakuhachi - 03 Shakuhachi : Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
The Meian Shirinpo-Ryu also called this piece Konpon (basic) Darani or Sanya Kyoku. Written in Chinese characters, the name of this piece, Darani, is a phonetic representation of the Sanskrit dharani, which can be translated as "Perfect Truth," or "Perfect World," and is related to the symbol of the mandala. Its original meaning refers to the upholding and preservation of the way of goodness and the obstruction of the way of evil.

Darani should be played simply, using straight sounds, similar to kyosui technique, and minimal vibrato. It is played here on a 2.4 length flute.

Darani is the name of one of the two holiest sutra. It is said that if you chanted it, you would be happy and healthy in the next life. Shakuhachi player Hanaya Shingyo believed it to be the most effective sutra. At times, its chanting was actually forbidden, because it was associated with black magic. In northern Japan, blind women called "gozei," would chant the sutra Darani to call the dead. These adepts were supposed to have acquired special powers by virtue of austere shamanistic training, which started at age 6 or 7, and included such practices as inducing trance states by chanting while sitting outside in the snow until a circle was melted around them.

The piece gives the impression of chanting a long Sanskrit text. In reciting the Darani text, one is said to sustain one's immense and infinite spiritual duty, overcome all kinds of obstacles and attain various virtues. The musical piece Darani contains an inserted, potentially disruptive section in a different key and faster and stronger rhythm, sometimes called "The Nun's Veil" also called Ho-No-Kyoku, or Nori No Kyoku (Piece of the Law or Way). Nori means law or dharma, the best path, "the way." This section is so different that it seems as if the music had become mixed up, and part of another piece was being played. After this section, a very strong, solid focus is portrayed. Some have characterized this piece as giving the impression of the image of a large, strong Buddha. Others say it describes the meditative experience, in which a strong focus is attained, and then disturbed, and then resumed with greater strength, the distraction having been incorporated into the all.