A day in the life of a komuso monk

The life of the Komuso of the Fuke sect, a sect of Zen Buddhism that lasted about 250 years during the Edo period. I created a video based on my image. Komuso is half-monk, half-secular, and although they call themselves members of the Fuke sect and Zen sect. He did not hold funerals or memorial services. For the maintenance of the temple and the sustenance of individuals, the method of asking for alms was mainly used. Another side business method was providing shakuhachi instruction and bathhouses, for townspeople, and farmers.
The situation when a komuso gives alms is explained by the Nezasa school of shakuhachi honkyoku. It will be introduced along with performances of “To-ri'', “Kadoduke'', and “Hachigaeshi''. After the Komuso monk finished his alms for the day and returned to the Komuso temple.
After that, I would like to introduce “Azuma no Kyoku'' as an example of a small piece played playfully. At Komusodera Temple, he practiced the representative songs handed down at that temple and the songs for zen training. When he returned to Komusodera Temple, he apparently enjoyed playing small pieces like this “Azuma no kyoku''. These short pieces were called “Hirukara (afternoon)'' and were enjoyed in the afternoon.

In Kanagawa-shuku, this place on the Tokaido during the Edo period. There was Saikoji, a Komusodera temple of the Fuke sect. Saikoji Temple was built around 1617 during the Edo period. As a branch temple of the Fuke Sect, it is located in the southern area of Hongaku-ji Temple. For the next 250 years, Saikoji flourished facing the Tokaido.The Meiji government was critical of Komusojdera, which the Edo shogunate generously protected. In 1871, the Fuke Zen sect was abolished, and Saikoji Temple was also abandoned.
Saiko-ji no longer exists, and the Soto sect Hongaku-ji, which will become the family temple of the head priest, The Saikoji Komuso Monument was created to pass on the venerable history of Komuso to future generations. has been erected.
Player: Takashi Ishii

#尺八 #shakuhachi #虚無僧 #komuso #禅宗 #zen #江戸時代 #Edo period #普化宗＃Fuke sect #西向寺 #saikouji #東海道 #Tokaido