Tôsha Suihô: 四季の笛 (Die Vier Jahreszeiten In Kyoto) (1983)

春 – SPRING

1. Miyama No Sato

When you go north from Kyoto by Kuram Street and then behind Kurama, along the winding road that goes high between the cedars, you find the Hanase Pass. Hanase village lying in a valley. From there you climb over Obuse, through a narrow valley toward Dahisan mountain, and finally arrive at the path that leads to the Bujoji temple.

The idea of ​​this recording came to me as I went along the mountain path from which, on the mountain vista opposite, you could see the Bujoji temple, and around I heard the birds singing.

It was April and still cold in the mountains. The Uguisu (birds) seems to be singing their songs.

I have arranged their song. However I started playing with my instrument, the birds took the tune of my flute and when I played, they answered. I was astounded by that. It was a beautiful experience. – [1] Spring, Site 1 (a), April 1982, Shinobue-flute

2. Daihisan (Daihisan Mountain)

The Daihisan mountain is located in Kurama, north of the Hanase village. The Daihisan is 747 meters tall, and at the base lay the temple of Yamabushi … Bujoji.

It takes about 2 hours by bus to Kyoto to the entrance of the bujoji. Nearby are quiet mountains, a river with clear water, and there are barely any people along the mountain path.

This temple was built 830 years ago by the ascetic priest Kanku. To get to the temple from the bus stop, you must walk a steep path along the Teratanigawa river. The path from Nio Gate to the Temple, which lies on the slope of the Daihisan, passes through steep trails. On the way you pass the bell tower and the so called Lion’s Den.

As I came upon the temple, I was suddenly reminded of my childhood. I thought about the spring evenings, as I went to the house blowing a grass flute. My thoughts turned back to those days, a strong yearning came over me, warming my heart. With these compelling thoughts, I tried to have a conversation with nature. – [2] Spring, Site 1 (b), April 1982, Shinobue-flute

3. Daigoji (The Daigoji Temple)

The Daigoji Temple in Fushimi, by Kyoto, is one of the biggest and most significant temples south of Kyoto. It is known for its gorgeous cherry trees with drooping branches, which Toyotomi Hideyoshi had sought there 400 years ago.

Passing through the front door, you travel along a cherry tree-filled path to the Nio Gate. On the left side is the Sambolin, famous for its old architecture and garden.

The Sambolin is a smaller secondary temple, but at the same time the main temple of a special branch of the Yamabushi-Mountain Ascetic/monks. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was so taken with this temple that he bought the sliding glass doors and clear, glossy walls of the Momoyama period for his buildings, gardens, and included the same in his paintings. Hideyoshi gave special instructions for the garden and the princes across Japan sent him the most beautiful garden stones.

In the early mornings, while listening to the priests’ songs and contemplating the forever-changing history of this place, I took my flute in my hand. The crows and other birds, who were already awake, added to the priests’ song in harmony. Between the crows’ cawing, the chirping of smaller birds, and my flute we built a harmonious whole. – [3] Spring, Site 1 (c), April 1982, Shinobue-flute

4. Rakka No Mai. (The Dance Of Falling Flowers)

When I looked at the full- blown cherry trees, which gave the temple the name “Bloom Temple”, I not only felt the beauty of the flowers, but at the same time something different and uncanny. Nowadays, “flower” makes us think of glorious beauty or the joy of looking at it, but in the past, “flower” also meant fragility or externality and alienation.

When the stage at the Kabuki piece “Dōjōji” is filled with cherry blossoms, the spectators should not only think of the beauty and mild calm, but also of the transience of the people, of the violence hidden in a friendly, gentle figure of the sudden end, thinking of the unforgiveness and madness of the heroine Kiyohime.

When I put the flute to my lips right under the temple bell, it started off with the wild rhythm of the Dōjōji and went into the fast dance of the last section of Dōjōji.

It was very impressive how the sound of Nōkan (no-flute) made the temple bell echo and the echo came from nearby Koshioyama. – [2] Spring, Site 2 (a), April 1982, Nokan-flute

5. Hana No Tera. (The Cherry Blossom Temple)

The Shōjiji Temple in Ohara, the most famous flower place known as the Cherry Blossom Temple, is better known under its real name because the temple area is filled with cherry trees, including that cherry tree planted by the poet Saigyō 700 years ago,

Through the poem of Saigyo and the related No piece “Saigyō-Zakura” we know that this temple was a famous place for the cherry blossom show in the Middle Ages. When I visited this temple, the cherry trees in the temple were fully in bloom.

In the gentle breeze, the petals sank quietly down. It seemed to me that they mournfully danced down from the branches to earth for the transience of life.

In the thought of the falling flowers over which the picture of an unfortunate dancer, I played this piece. – [2] Spring, Site 2 (b), April 1982, Shinobue-flute and Shinobue-flute mixed

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