Watazumi Doso (海童道祖, わたづみ どうそ, Watazumi Dōso)Roshi (November 20, 1911 - December 14, 1992) was a master of the end-blown Japanese
bamboo flute. He studied
Rinzai Zen, attaining the title of
rōshi.
Born as Tanaka Masaru, he was also known as Tanaka Fumon, Itcho Fumon, Watazumi Fumon, and Watazumi Shuso.
Watazumi played unlacquered instruments that he referred to as
hotchiku, in contrast with the modern
shakuhachi, stressing that to truly understand nature and oneself, one had to use an instrument of the most raw and natural origin. From this grew what he called Watazumidō "Way of Watazumi".
In addition to hotchiku, Watazumi used the
jō for exercise, invigoration, and training.
Quotations
"It's fine that you are all deep into music. But there's something deeper and if you would go deeper, if you go to the source of where the music is being made, you'll find something even more interesting. At the source, everyone's individual music is made. If you ask what the deep place is, it's your own life and it's knowing your own life, that own way that you live."[1]
"When you hear some music or hear some sound, if for some reason you like it very well; the reason is that sound is in balance or in harmony with your pulse. And so making a sound, you try to make various different sounds that imitate various different sounds of the universe, but what you are finally making is your own sound, the sound of yourself."[1]
"He who blows Ro 10 minutes every day can become a master."[citation needed]
Works
The Mysterious Sounds of the Japanese Bamboo Flute,
Everest Records 3289
The Art of the Japanese Bamboo Flute. Album. Legacy International - CD 306. (Reissue of Everest 3289)[2]
The Sacrifice, a Swedish film featuring the music of Watazumi Doso
References
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ab"Watazumi Doso Roshi". "The Way of Watazumi" Lecture. Creative Music Studio, Woodstock, N.Y. 1981. International Shakuhachi Society. Retrieved June 22, 2012.