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Tamuke

手向

[Genre]Honkyoku
[School]Dokyoku / Chikushinkai

History (Michael Chikuzen Gould):

This is a requiem piece. Several melodies sad, but friendly or approachable are played around a familiar lullaby.

Tamuke appears on the following albums

Album Artist
Play ButtonAjikan Shakuhachi : Taniguchi Yoshinobu
"Tamuke" literally means "hands folded together in prayer" and is a eulogy or requiem for the departed souls of loved ones. It is a melody that brings indescribable sorrow and stillness deep into the heart. Tamuke originated in the Fusai Temple in Ise, Wakayama Prefecture, a branch of the Kyoto Meian Temple. Let's look at the image of a person sitting in prayer, facing. . . what? Facing the unknown. Someone special and dearly loved has crossed over to the other side. You are communicating with them, however, your mind faces "nothing". You expect them to walk through the door any minute, but they do not. They have vanished from the face of the earth. The rational mind cannot deal with this very well. We sit in an attitude of respect for both the deceased and in the face of the unknown. When one goes through this "tearing away" that occurs when someone who is a part of your life dies, a wide range of emotions are experienced: pain, anger, fear, sadness, bewilderment, hope, expectation, helplessness, grief, and so on. Tamuke gives us a vehicle to express these deep feelings and a way to communicate with our loved ones.

In Japan, most homes have a Buddhist altar where one can sit and connect with those who have passed on from this world. Often there is a photograph of the deceased in front of the altar as well as some food or drink they enjoyed. One sits at the altar, burning incense and communicating in some form, usually by chanting a sutra, by talking or even in the silence of memories. This is wonderful because, in Japan, there is a place to make such contact in a most natural way.

A shakuhachi player can sit in this space before the altar playing Tamuke until the person in his or her heart appears. Time is not part of this world; one should naturally lose oneself in this process and several hours will pass in an instant. Play shakuhachi to express the emotions you experience at the gates of death. Play while remembering the things you experienced with this person, recalling their existence as if you are sharing old stories with them. Play until tears of sadness stream down your cheeks, then tears of happiness, as you feel their presence sitting next to you and the relief that they still have an existence, albeit in a different world.

The feeling of Tamuke is whatever you bring to it. Not just a sad effigy, but something very real as you play from your life experience. Do what is natural. Play happily if you feel like doing so; this is a private matter. Tamuke gives an opportunity to play from the core of your life. This skill cannot be taught, but only learned through "doing".

Breath-Sight - Yearning for the Bell Volume 1 Shakuhachi : Riley Kōho Lee
Prayer for Safe Passage

The term tamuke refers to making spiritual offerings to the Buddha. Originating from the Ise district of Japan, tamuke combines the elements of the requiem and the elegy of Western music. It is a prayer for safe passage through life and through death. Played on a 2.6 shaku flute.
Play ButtonEmpty Bells Shakuhachi : Riley Kōho Lee

Esprit d'Orient Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya

Floating Clouds Shakuhachi : Michael Chikuzen Gould
This is a requiem piece. Several melodies sad, but friendly or approachable are played around a familiar lullaby.
Play ButtonFloating Clouds (Larry Tyrrell) Shakuhachi : Larry Tyrrell

Hi Fu Mi Shakuhachi : Renkei Hashimoto
Offering
The komuso monks did not play this piece during their walks but rather inside their temples during commemorations for the dead.
Play ButtonHis Practical Philosophy - 1 Shakuhachi : Watazumi Dōso Roshi
Play ButtonHotchiku (CD) Shakuhachi : Watazumi Dōso Roshi
("Offering")

Tamuke gives the feeling of old Nara, which is where this piece comes from. It is meant to be played for and in front of people.

A 2.55 shaku hocchiku was used for this piece.

Ichi Shakuhachi : Horacio Curti
Symbolized with the gesture of putting the palms together in front of the chest, this piece is traditionally performed both at funerals and memorials for the deceased.
Play ButtonIn Dead Earnest Shakuhachi : Ishikawa Toshimitsu
Play ButtonJapanese Bamboo Flute Shakuhachi : Richard Stagg
Play ButtonJapanese Folk Songs
A song for solo, offering to a soul. Music of the spiritual world which is the essence of the Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute).
Play ButtonJapanese Traditional Shakuhachi Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
Ise district origin. Combines the elements of requiem and elegy of the Western music.
Play ButtonJapon - Musique Millenaire Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
Elégie ou requiem, cette oeuvre exprime la communion avec un être cher décédé. Très anci.enne, elle est née dans la région d 'Ise.
Play ButtonJapon L'art du shakuhachi Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
Tamuke (Offertory)

"Tamuke" belongs to the pieces with a liturgical function, "Confession", "Prayer", "Devotion", "Incense-burning", etc. It is played either at funerals, or on the occasion of the commemorative ceremonies for the dead, in order to create a moment of contemplation and peace.
Play ButtonKoten Shakuhachi Shakuhachi : Kakizakai Kaoru
From Ise region, Tamuke has meanings of requiem or elegy of Western music and I experience the calm graciousness of abundant forgiveness.
Play ButtonKyorei Shakuhachi : Tokuyama Takashi
Although the composer is unknown, Tamuke comes from the city of Suzuka in Mie Prefecture. More specifically, we can say this piece originates from the temple of Fusaiji, which has preserved such honkyoku as Kakusuirei and Sakigake-no-kyoku. By using a melodic system of whole steps built around a minor scale, Tamuke creates a sublime and melancholic sentiment. It has a modern feeling and is ever reminiscent of Japanese Enka music.

Marco Lienhard - Shakuhachi Shakuhachi : Marco Lienhard

November Steps - Take no Miryoku Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Ranpo
Play ButtonSea Drift Shakuhachi : Riley Kōho Lee
Play ButtonShakuhachi - Ryudo - 02 Shakuhachi : Takahashi Ryudo

Shakuhachi - The Art of Yokoyama Katsuya Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
In Japanese language, 'tamuke' means to make offerings to Gods Buddha or the dead, or simply the offered things themselves. This piece was played by komuso, literally as 'tamuke' to the dead. Even nowadays, it is sometimes played in this way.

In koten honkyoku there are other types of religious repertoire played in specific ceremonies, "Shokomon", "Zangemon", "Kuyo no kyoku", "Eko" etc., as well as "Tamuke." though it is rather a short piece, it is well organized as a tune, and a formidable masterpiece. The melody, carrying sorrow in its stillness contains love and grief to the dead and pull delicately at the listener's heart.

Shakuhachi Honkyoku Shakuhachi : Riley Kōho Lee

Shakuhachi Ma Shakuhachi : Todd Barton
Play ButtonShika no Tone Shakuhachi Koten Meikyoku Shusei - 1 Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
(Offering)

The meaning of Tamuke is an offering to the gods or to the Buddha. This piece is played during the Buddhist service for the dead.

Shingetsu Shakuhachi : Tajima Tadashi

Smithsonian Folkways - Shakuhachi Honkyoku Shakuhachi : Riley Kōho Lee
Play ButtonSound of Zen, The Shakuhachi : Okuda Atsuya

Tajima Tadashi Shakuhachi no Sekai I Shakuhachi : Tajima Tadashi
Play ButtonTamuke Shakuhachi : Taniguchi Yoshinobu
"Tamuke" literally means "hands folded together in prayer" and is a eulogy or requiem for the departed souls of loved ones. It is a melody that brings indescribable sorrow and stillness deep into the heart. Tamuke originated in the Fusai Temple in Ise, Wakayama Prefecture, a branch of the Kyoto Meian Temple.

Let's look at the image of a person sitting in prayer, facing. . . what? Facing the unknown. Someone special and dearly loved has crossed over to the other side. You are communicating with them, however, your mind faces "nothing". You expect them to walk through the door any minute, but they do not. They have vanished from the face of the earth. The rational mind cannot deal with this very well. We sit in an attitude of respect for both the deceased and in the face of the unknown. When one goes through this "tearing away" that occurs when someone who is a part of your life dies, a wide range of emotions are experienced: pain, anger, fear, sadness, bewilderment, hope, expectation, helplessness, grief, and so on. Tamuke gives us a vehicle to express these deep feelings and a way to communicate with our loved ones.

In Japan, most homes have a Buddhist altar where one can sit and connect with those who have passed on from this world. Often there is a photograph of this person in front of the altar as well as some food or drink they enjoyed. One sits at the altar, burning incense and communicating in some form, usually by chanting a sutra, by talking or even in the silence of memories. This is wonderful because, in Japan, there is a place to make such contact in a most natural way.

A shakuhachi player can sit in this space before the altar playing Tamuke until the person in his or her heart appears. Time is not part of this world; one should naturally lose oneself in this process and several hours will pass in an instant. Play shakuhachi to express the emotions you experience at the gates of death. Play while remembering the things you experienced with this person, recalling their existence as if you are sharing old stories with them. Play until tears of sadness stream down your cheeks, then tears of happiness, as you feel their presence sitting next to you and the relief that they still have an existence, albeit in a different world.

The feeling of Tamuke is whatever you bring to it. Not just a sad effigy, but something very real as you play from your life experience. Do what is natural. Play happily if you feel like doing so; this is a private matter. Tamuke gives an opportunity to play from the core of your life. This skill cannot be taught, but only learned through "doing".

The Voice of Bamboo Shakuhachi : Steven Casano
Shakuhachi : Steven Kōchiku Casano

Traditional Japanese Music Shakuhachi : Iwamoto Yoshikazu
Tamuke - offering

Originally coming from Ise province in central Japan, the piece engenders the warm and serene atmosphere of that area by its simple and much loved melody.
Play ButtonWhen the Brightness Comes Shakuhachi : Iwamoto Yoshikazu
Originally coming from Ise province in central Japan, the piece engenders the warm and serene atmosphere of that area by its simple and much loved melody.
Play ButtonZen - Katsuya Yokoyama - 01 Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
(Offering)

The meaning of Tamuke is an offering to the gods or to the Buddha. This piece is played during the Buddhist service for the dead.