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A komusō (虚無僧 komusō, Hiragana こむそう; also romanized komusou or komuso) was a Japanese mendicant monastic of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism, during the Edo period of 1600-1868.[1] Komusō were characterised by the straw basket (a sedge or reed hood named a tengai) worn on the head, manifesting the absence of specific ego.[2] They are also known for playing solo pieces on the shakuhachi (a type of Japanese bamboo flute). These pieces, called honkyoku ("original pieces") were played during a meditative practice called suizen, for alms, as a method of attaining enlightenment, and as a healing modality. The Japanese government introduced reforms after the Edo period, abolishing the Fukè sect. Records of the musical repertoire survived, and are being revived in the 20th century.
The komusō was also used as a disguise by samurai, particularly ronin, and possibly also ninja, who were seldom members of the samurai class.[3]
Etymology
- 虚無僧 (komusō) means "priest of nothingness" or "monk of emptiness"
- 虚無 (kyomu or komu) means "nothingness, emptiness"
- 虚 (kyo or ko) means "nothing, empty, false"
- 無 (mu) means "nothing, nil, zero"
- 僧 (sō) means "priest, monk"
- 虚無 (kyomu or komu) means "nothingness, emptiness"
References
- ^ Blomberg, Catharina (1994). The heart of the warrior: origins and religious background of the Samurai System in Feudal Japan. Catharina Blomberg. pp. 101–103. ISBN 1-873410-13-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=GMKDs1cZB5kC&pg=PA101&dq=komuso#v=onepage&q=komuso&f=false.
- ^ Nishiyama, Matsunosuke; Groemer, Gerald (1997). Edo culture: daily life and diversions in urban Japan, 1600-1868. University of Hawaii Press. p. 124. ISBN 0-8248-1736-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=gudOOeIuoYIC&pg=PA124&dq=komuso#v=onepage&q=komuso&f=false.
- ^ Turnbull, Stephen R. (2005). Warriors of medieval Japan. Osprey publishing. p. 160. ISBN 1-84176-864-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=EMWwiHrAoFQC&pg=PA160&dq=komuso#v=onepage&q=komuso&f=false.
- liner notes from the music CD Komuso: The Healing Art of Zen Shakuhachi, Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin, shakuhachi. 2000, The Relaxation Company
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