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Nishimura Koku

西村 虚空

Nishimura Koku
1915 - 6/??/2002

Shakuhachi

Koku Nishimura started playing the bamboo flute when he was 28 years old. He was taught by a "komuso" named Kyochiku Tani. Later, Koku Nishimura became a master flutist and founded the Tani-sect of flute players. He named the special type of bamboo flute used by himself and his pupils, "kyotaku." Koku Nishimura became a komuso and for ten years he walked around Japan and played kyotaku. He tought students from all over the world, and he has made over 2,000 kyotaku flutes. In addition to being a flute master, he was an accomplished woodcarver and painter. He had a black belt with six dan in Okinawa karate and a black belt with three dan in Kendo. In addition, he was the Honorary Director of the Ruo-yan Buddism Association in China.

Teachers

Students

Albums

Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku

Kyotaku Kyotaku

Zen Buddist melodies. Remastered from a tape recording made in 1964.

Tracks Recorded

Pieces KanjiLengthAlbumInstrument
Aizu Kôn (Takane) 合図高音 01'35 Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Ajikan (Itchoken) 阿字観 08'46 Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Play Button Ajikan (Itchoken) 阿字観 09'47 Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Choshi (Myoan Shinpo Ryu) 調子 05'28 Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Play Button Choshi (Myoan Shinpo Ryu) 調子 04'59 Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Chôshi (Yamato) 調子 (大和) 03'02 Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Play Button Chôshi (Yamato) 調子 (大和) 07'50 Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Hi Fu Mi no Shirabe (Don't know which version) 一二三の調 04'17 Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Kokû (Don't know which version) 虚空 15'32 Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Reibo (Don't know which version) 霊慕 10'31 Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Play Button Reibo (Don't know which version) 霊慕 11'17 Kyotaku Shakuhachi
Play Button Saji 薩慈 10'52 Kyotaku Shakuhachi