Editing Database: Shakuhashi

{{Spoilerhd|20 June 2025|[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]}}
The shakuhachi is a bamboo flute with five finger holes (four in the front and one in the back) tuned to a minor pentatonic scale. The instrument came from China, via Korea, in antiquity. As such, it shares the physical characteristics of similar wind instruments in many Asian cultures. Originally used in the performance of music for the Imperial Court, the shakuhachi was adopted as an instrument of meditation during the 13th century, particularly within the Fuke sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism. The music produced by the shakuhachi is described as intensely evocative with a timbre that invites the listener to commune with nature or embark on an inner journey. The monks of the Fuke sect eventually abandoned the traditional lotus-style seated position during meditation and began to wander while playing the flute. They also wore straw baskets as hats with small openings that allowed them to see while hiding their features. These monks, called the komuso, were thought to be strange and odd-looking by the general population. The shakuhachi's close association with meditation and Zen Buddhism led to the common perception of the shakuhachi as a religious instrument.
[[Category:Animus EGO database entries]]
[[Category:Database: Music and Arts]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shakuhashi}}