JOURNAL ÜY THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY, 

 TÏÏKYÏÏ, JAPAN, 



VOL. XXI., ARTICLE 10. 



Acoustical Investigation of the Japanese 

 Bamboo Pipe, Syakuhati. 



Bv 



T. Terada, Rigakushi. 



Lecturer un Phijsies in the Tôhijo Impcria! U'liirrsitjj. 



With 3 plates. 



Of all our wind instruments the syakuhati has for more 

 than two centuries been one of the most popular with our people. 

 Its origin is probably to be traced back to a similar jiipe called 

 the hiioyogiri, which was already po2)ular under the Asikaga 

 Shogunatc. It had been originally an inseparable accompaniment 

 of a sect oi" itinerant Buddhist priests called homusô, and special 

 melodies were composed for it. The characteristic color of its 

 notes gave it a peculiar hold u})on the fancy of the nation, 

 which has steadily grown stronger until to-day it lias become so 

 pojiular that every favourite air is })layed on it and even a special 

 system of written music has been developed for the instrument. 



The timbre of the notes of the syakuhati somewhat resem- 

 bles that of a flute and also that of an oboe, being peculiarly 

 pathetic and of a rural color. The characteristic variety of 

 expressions and tone-colors, of which it is capable is not attain- 

 able by any other instrument of the kind. 



