Koten Honkyoku: Shishi 獅子 (Nezasa Ha / Kimpu Ryû - 根笹派 /錦風流)

Shishi 獅子 Nezasa Ha / Kimpu Ryû - 根笹派 /錦風流 Chikuho Ryû “This piece is also known as Monju-kyoku which derives from the portrayal of Monju-bosatsu, the Buddha of wisdom, as riding on a lion (shishi). From olden times it has been used as a celebratory piece. If we were to divide classical shakuhachi honkyoku into two groups, honte and hade, we could say that the piece Shishi more likely belongs to the hade group. It is a piece for itinerate priests, and was played when they went begging for food. Although it is thought to have some connection to lion dances (shishi-mai), this piece has been quite refined in the style of Nezasa-ha honkyoku and bears absolutely no traces of such folk art. Among shakuhachi honkyoku there are also such pieces as Kumoijishi, Meguro-jishi, Sakae-jishi, etc. but these are quite unrelated works. It is constructed in three sections [honte -takane -musubi]. In the takane section the t