The "Ascetic Shakuhachi" Historical Evidence Research Web Pages

1872-1878 (1843-44): The Komusō zakki Source Collection

虚無僧雑記

This essential source collection was first prepared during the mid-19th century, however eventually published only shortly after the Meiji Restoration in 1867-1868.

Among the historical material contained you find the very important text and 'honkyoku'-related document 'Shakuhachi denrai-ki',
尺八伝来記 dated 1732.

The Komusō zakki, 虚無僧雑記, is an anthology of Edo Period shakuhachi-related texts and pictures that was originally compiled/authored by Okumura Noriyoshi, 奥村得義, who lived from 1793 to 1862.

In 1843-44 (Tenpō 14-15), the scholar and writer Kodera Gyokuchō, 小寺玉晁, 1800-1878 - a retainer of the Owari clan, Nagoya - borrowed and copied the material, then annotated and prepared the work for eventual publication.

However, according to the shakuhachi historian Yatō Osamu, 矢頭治, Komusō zakki may first have been presented in final print as late as in or rather after 1871.
Link: Komusō zakki



In 2004, a reprint of the book was re-published by the bookstore Mytown in Nagoya, Japan

Okumura Yoshinori (compiler) & Kodera Gyokuchō (editor):
     Komusō zakki, "Komusō Notes".
     Photographic reprint of a quite early Meiji Period original
     published by the book store Mytown, Nagoya, 2004.


ILLUSTRATIONS in KOMUSŌ ZAKKI:



Komusō in 'Komusō zakki', 2004, p. 40,
redrawn from the 'Nippon bushi kagami' - a.k.a. 'Kokon bushi kagami'
- by Mukunashi Issetsu, 1696.



Komosō in 'Komusō zakki', 2004, p. 46,
redrawn from the 'Kanden kōhitsu' by Ban Kōkei, 1799.

That is in fact a very poor redrawing from some so far unknown copy
of the 'Sanjūniban shokunin utaawase emaki', 1494.



Edo Period komusō picture in 'Komusō zakki', 2004, p. 47,
redrawn from the 'Jinbutsu sōjin', 1724.

The original work from which this illustration was redrawn
has not yet been located online on the internet. T.O., July, 2019.



Komosō in 'Komusō zakki', 2004, p. 48,
redrawn from the 'Sanjūniban shokunin utaawase emaki', 1494.

Do note, importantly, that the title text in the upper right corner is mistaken in that,
erroneously, it reads 'Shichijū ichiban shokunin utaawase',
which is the name of a different likewise famous poetry contest scroll dated 1501.



2 so named 'komusō' in 'Komusō zakki', 2004, p. 83,
redrawn from the 'Ōnusa/Shamisen shoshinho', 1685.



3 Edo Period komusō pictures in 'Komusō zakki', 2004, p. 84:
Right: redrawn from 'Ehon mitsu wagusa', 1758
Top left: redrawn from 'Ukiyo monogatari', 1661 or 1665
Bottom left: redrawn from 'Jinrin kinmo zui', 1690

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尺八伝来記 - SHAKUHACHI DENRAI-KI

"Account of the Transmission of the Shakuhachi"

The complete Shakuhachi denrai-ki as reproduced in the 2004 reprint
of the Komusō zakki on pages 89 to 93.
Published by the book store Mytown in Nagoya, Japan

Go to this internal web page to study the title list in detail:
1732: The 'Shakuhachi denraiki'







SHAKUHACHI KYOKU TITLE LIST:

Go to this internal web page to study the translated title list in detail:

1732: The 'Shakuhachi denraiki'





List of 34 early shakuhachi kyoku titles in the 'Shakuhachi denraiki'.
Source: 'Komusō zakki', 虚無僧雑記, 1732







Go to this internal web page to study the translated title list in detail:

1732: The 'Shakuhachi denraiki'