A traditional, 19th c. Blowing Zen piece, Honshirabé is composed to two ideograms: hon, “origin” and shirabé (Jap. shiraberu), “investigation”. As the name suggests, while playing this piece, a performer will point his awareness to investigating his or her ultimate origin. This practice is similar to the contemplation of koans in Rinzai Zen.
(On Blowing Bamboo; solo performed by Robert A. Jonas. Recorded at Thomas Eaton Recording Studio, Newburyport, MA, 2002.. Re-released in 2015.)
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