is the Japanese word for bamboo flute, and refers to a class of flutes native to Japan. come in many varieties, but are generally high-pitched and made of a bamboo called . The most popular of the is the .
are traditionally broken up into two basic categories â the transverse flute and the end-blown flute. Transverse flutes are held to the side, with the musician blowing across a hole near one end; end-blown flutes are held vertically and the musician blows into one end.
The earliest may have developed from pitch pipes known as in Chinese. The instrument eventually made its way over to Japan from China in the 5th century, becoming prevalent during the Nara Period.
Soon after the introduction of instruments, members of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism made normal use of the . These "priests of nothingness" viewed the instruments as spiritual tools, using them for , or "blowing meditation". Modern performance may feature a soloist or involve either a chamber or large ensemble of the instruments.
Japanese include many different varieties of Japanese flute, including the following: