"Volume 4 of the 7 volume "Yearning for the Bell" series."

皇保
Tall Poppies - TP138
1999

トラック番号	タイトル	漢字	長さ	アーティスト
1	Akita Sugagaki (Kinko Ryu)	秋田菅垣	12'00	尺八: 皇保
	Autumn Field The title of this piece literally means "Sugagaki from Akita". Akita, which means 'autumn field', is a district in northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The term, 'sugagaki' cannot be translated though the pronunciation of the Chinese characters are known, the meanings are no longer understood in the shakuhachi context. The word 'sugagaki' appears in the koto tradition, but there is no apparent connection between this context and the shakuhachi pieces with 'sugagaki' in their title. One Japanese scholar has suggested that it refers to the now largely obsolete method of stacking bunches of rice stalks on wooden racks in the autumn fields, to dry before threshing.
2	Renbo Nagashi	恋慕流	08'23	尺八: 皇保
	Intense Yearning A literal translation of the first two Chinese characters of this piece ('ren' and 'bo') are 'love' and 'yearning'. The final character, 'nagashi' has many meanings, such as 'flowing', 'wandering', and 'stream', though in this case the word, like 'sugagaki', has little meaning. This piece is considered one of the family of "Yearning for the Bell" pieces; the word 'ren' (love) replacing the word 'rei' (bell).
3	Taki Ochi no Kyoku	滝落の曲	09'25	尺八: 皇保
	Cascading Waterfall Versions of the piece, Cascading Waterfall are found in nearly every shakuhachi honkyoku lineage. The piece on this recording is one of two versions in the Chikuho lineage. It is considered to be among the oldest of the traditional honkyoku, as evidenced by its beginning in the upper register, a characteristic shared by the earlier honkyoku. There is a tradition among many Buddhist lineages, including the shakuhachi playing Fuke lineage, of meditating under waterfalls. It is claimed that to play shakuhachi under a cascading waterfall in wintertime may be to experience one-mindedness.
4	Ryûgin Kokû (Taizan Ha)	龍吟虚空	06'42	尺八: 皇保
	Dragon Singing in the Empty Sky The title of this pieces literally means the 'Dragon Crying' (Ryugin) version of 'Empty Sky' (Koku). This is one of many versions of "Empty Sky", one of a trilogy of the oldest and venerated honkyoku. The first character 'ko', refers to a concept that is in the realm of the Absolute and therefore cannot be explained or understood with words. Words, and indeed our thoughts, are of the world of the relative. For example, the word 'empty' has no meaning apart from the word 'full'. The word 'ko', on the other hand, does not mean merely 'empty', because it is not the opposite of 'full'; it is 'that' which has nothing to do with 'fullness'. Finally, it should be noted that the dragon of Asia, unlike the fire-breathing, maiden-eating, cave-dwelling dragon of Europe, is a creature of great beauty and grace. It is covered with scales of precious jewels and brings good fortune to any human blessed with a glimpse of it.
5	Kyushu Reibo (Itchoken)	九州鈴慕	05'33	尺八: 皇保
	Yearning for the Bell of the Kyushu Region Kyushu Reibo belongs to the family of Reibo pieces, from which this series of seven recordings takes its name. The legendary 'father' of the honkyoku tradition, Fuke (ca. 9th C. China), did not play shakuhachi, but rang a rei (hand-bell) instead. To his disciples, Fuke's bell has come to symbolize enlightenment. "Yearning for the Bell" can therefore mean 'yearning for enlightenment'.
6	San'ya (Dokyoku)	三谷	10'15	尺八: 皇保
	Three Valleys As with so many other honkyoku, there are many versions of San'ya. There are variations in the titles of this piece as well, for example, "Mountain Valley" (also pronounced 'san'ya'). The 'Three Valleys' may allude to a semi-mythical abode of enlightened beings, or to the 'three jewels' of Buddhism, the Buddha, the teachings, and the community. This version of 'Three Valleys' is the only piece on this recording not transmitted in the Chikuho lineage, instead being found in the Watazumi lineage.
7	Hachigaeshi (Don't know which version)	鉢返	04'26	尺八: 皇保
	Returning the Bowl For centuries, shakuhachi playing Zen Buddhist mendicant priests would wander the countryside of Japan, soliciting alms. After receiving a donations, frequently of uncooked rice or vegetables, the priest would transfer the food into his own satchel, and return the empty bowl to its owner, the donor. The priest would then immediately perform this appropriately named piece. Hachi Gaeshi is therefore an expression of intense gratitude.
8	Hi Fu Mi no Shirabe (Don't know which version)	一二三の調	04'35	尺八: 皇保
	One, Two, Three, Search! This is one of many 'searching' pieces in the honkyoku repertoire. The meaning of the first three characters in this context is unknown, though they may refer to the 'three jewels' of Buddhism. The final character, pronounced cho, has many meanings, including 'melody' and 'tuning', as well as 'search'. These short pieces function primarily as a searching for a 'way' towards a complete awareness of one's present situation.