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Hottō Kokushi a.k.a. Kakushin Did Not "Invent" 'Suizen',
Nor Did He "Invent" 'Suishō-zen'!
This is the Kyōto Myōan Temple and the Myōan Dōshukai's official history and ideology in print, online, in full public view:
「法燈国師は尺八をもって座禅一助の便法、禅定悟得の妙法とした指導理念で「吹簫禅すいしょうぜん」すなわち「吹禅すいぜん」を確立されました。」
"Hottō Kokushi [1203–1298, ed.] established 'Suishō-zen', namely 'Sui-zen', using the shakuhachi as a convenient method
for aiding in zazen meditation and a marvellous method for achieving Zen enlightenment."
Trsl. by T.O. May, 2024.
Link: http://myouan-doushukai.org/suizen.html
The official Kyōto Myōan Temple English translation reads as this, though:
"Hotto established suizen of “Blowing Zen meditation” after realizing that blowing shakuhachi is an excellent means of meditation."
Link: http://myouan-doushukai.org/en.html
However now, from a stern, critical and objective academic viewpoint, what are the indisputable facts regarding this matter of concern?
THE FACTS:
The term 'Suishō-zen',
吹簫禅,
first ever appeared in writing in 1928.
'Suizen',
吹禅,
is not seen anywhere in print before the year 1950.
The Kyōto Myōan Temple’s monumental 'Suizen' stone stele in the temple's front garden was first erected in 1966.
The 40th 'kansu', Yoshimura Fuan Sōshin, recorded all the 32 Taizan-ha 'kyoku' as early as in the 1970s, maybe even earlier than that.
First released on an apparently unpublished set of 4 33 1/3 r.p.m. LP vinyl records, the collection was re-released by Kyōto Myōan-ji in 1995
on 3 CDs titled 'Suizen ichi-nyo',
吹禅一如,
"Non-dualistic Ascetic Shakuhachi Practice."
Commonly seen translation, though: "The Oneness of Suizen".
Left: The Yoshimura Fuan Sōshin 1995 CDs front cover, 1995
Right: The Yoshimura Fuan Sōshin LPs cover, 1970s?
The 3 CDs have never been presented to the public for purchase, nor ever been made digitally available for listening on the internet.
When might that ever happen, one should inquire?
The CD set title 'Suizen ichinyo', as with 'Suizen', was introduced by Kyōto Myōan-ji's very first ever genuine ordained Zen Buddhist monk and abbot,
Yasuda Tenzan,
安田天山,
1909-1994, under his leadership of the temple from 1950 to 1953.
That wording, that phrase: 'Suizen ichi-nyo', is also the text you see displayed on a board prominently placed at the front
of the Kyōto Myōan Temple’s main hall.
Above: Picture taken by a Taiwanese shakuhachi group visiting the temple in 2012.
Below: Calligraphy by Asanuma Kazumichi,
浅沼一道, 1933-2018.
Link: https://kumattamk.exblog.jp/15690617/
There exists no proof, no written, documentary nor any pictorial evidence, of Edo komusō’ "shakuhachi meditation practices" ever, like 'suizen' nor otherwise.
Anything presented as "Zen Shakuhachi Meditation" was invented and forcefully promoted for profit only well after the Second World War!
And of course, once and for all:
Shinchi Kakushin/Hottō Kokushi, never ever played the shakuhachi himself, nor did he play any role in shakuhachi history, whatsoever.
Historical facts matter!
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