End-blown Notched flute of Japan. The modern standard version has four finger-holes and one thumb-hole. Originally imported from China by the early 8th century, it reappeared around the 15th century in a Japanized form and has since come to be used in several quite diverse types of music: meditative solos, small ensemble pieces, folksong and modern works by both native and foreign composers. The impressive range of the shakuhachi's sound potential has been well described by Malm (1959): ‘From a whispering, reedy piano, the sound swells to a ringing metallic forte only to sink back into a cotton-wrapped softness, ending with an almost inaudible grace note, seemingly an afterthought’.
The fundamental pitches of the standard-size (54·5 cm) instrument are approximately d'-f'-g'-a'-c''. A skilful player can cover about three octaves although traditional pieces rarely exceed two octaves and a fourth. Pitches in between the basic ones are produced by a combination of part-holing and embouchure. The shakuhachi is manufactured in a graduated series of sizes a semitone apart; the size used depends on the genre, the other performers (if any) and the personal preference of the player.
For illustration and further discussion of its history and repertory, see Japan, §II, 5.