Tenbuki - Tempuku

A local instrument handed down in Kagoshima Prefecture, this is a non-reed flute that is very similar to the shakuhachi. It is made from the part of the flat, curved bamboo near the root, and its tube is about 30 cm long and 7-8 cm in circumference, making it thinner and shorter than the shakuhachi. It is thought to be one of the older forms of the current shakuhachi, as it has five holes and three sections, four on the front and one on the back, but it is significantly different from the shakuhachi in that the first section near the end of the tube is not hollowed out but instead has a small hole made there, and in the way the mouthpiece is cut. It seems that shakuhachi-type mouthpieces were also made, but the mainstream is the Chinese dongxiao type, where the part that collects the breath is hollowed out from the inside, leaving only the skin. The method of making the tube is primitive, and the tube length, sections, and finger hole positions vary depending on the maker. Moreover, since the finger holes are determined by the circumference of the tube, not the length of the tube, it is difficult to obtain a stable pitch. It is said that during the Sengoku period (late 16th century), Satsuma samurai loved to play this piece while on the battlefield, but its origins are unknown. After the Meiji period, it rapidly declined, and the only person to retain it was Shirao Kunitoshi, a resident of Kajiki Town (now Aira City), who established the Amabuki Club in 1981 (Showa 56) and is working to preserve the tradition. Seven short pieces, each lasting just a few minutes, including "Shirabe," "Tsutsune," and "Takane," have been handed down.

[Tsukikawa Tsuneko]

“Amabuki” edited and published by Amabuki Club (1986)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鹿児島県に伝わる郷土楽器で、尺八によく似た無簧(むこう)（ノン・リード）の縦笛。平たく曲がったホテイチクの根に近い部分でつくり、管の長さ約30センチメートル、外周は7～8センチメートルで、尺八に比べ細く短い。前面4孔、背面1孔の5孔3節であることから、現行尺八の古型の一つとも考えられるが、管尻(かんじり)に近い第1節を節抜きせずに小孔をあける点、また歌口の切り方など、尺八とは著しく異なる。尺八型の歌口もつくられたらしいが、主流は息を集める部分を皮目だけ残して内側からえぐる、つまり中国の洞簫(どうしょう)型である。製管法は原始的で、管長、節、指孔位置なども、製管者によって各管各様である。しかも、指孔は管長ではなく、管の外周の長さで決めるため、安定した音律を得るのが困難である。戦国時代（16世紀末）薩摩(さつま)武士が戦陣のつれづれに愛好したと伝えられるが、伝来は不明。明治以降は急速に衰微、唯一の伝承者となった加治木(かじき)町（現、姶良(あいら)市）在住の白尾國利(しらおくにとし)が1981年（昭和56）天吹同好会を発足させてその伝承保存に努めている。『シラベ』『ツツネ』『タカネ』など、数分の短い楽曲7曲が伝承される。

［月溪恒子］

『天吹同好会編・刊『天吹』（1986）』

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