komusō

The term "komusō" refers to a type of Japanese priest who played the shakuhachi, an end-blown bamboo flute. These priests, active during the Tokugawa period, often wandered the streets playing music, sometimes for alms or even for espionage, while their faces were concealed by distinctive wicker basket hats.12

The shakuhachi itself is derived from the Chinese xiao and typically has four finger holes and a thumbhole. The instrument's name originally indicated its length, about 11.93 inches plus eight sun (approximately 30.3 cm plus 3 cm). The music played by komusō is characterized by subtle tonal variations and ornamentation, often described as having an introverted quality reminiscent of Buddhist chant. Today, major schools of shakuhachi music trace their origins back to guilds of these komusō priests.12