Antique Jinashi Shakuhachi for Sale

Time Machines: Antique Jinashi Shakuhachi

Museum-quality instruments from past centuries, carefully crafted by komuso monks & old-school makers to play authentic traditional music. The timbre and tonal possibilities of ancient bamboo are truly unmatched. Each of these flutes is a unique work of art, ready to transport you back in time with its profound vibrations.

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Edo period komuso 2.2

TC05
Edo period

Maker: unknown
Length: 2.2 shaku / 665mm
Pitch: Bb
Price: (SOLD)

Hole diameter: 9mm
Bore diameter @ top: 23mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 18mm
Weight: 340g

This exceptionally rare Edo-period chokan represents a very early example of a long shakuhachi, likely owned by a komuso monk. This flute shows signs of being heavily-played for many years.

Meiji period 1.9

TC21
c.1900
Kinko-ryu

Maker: unknown
Length: 1.88 shaku / 570mm
Pitch: C#
Price: $999.99

Hole diameter: 10mm
Bore diameter @ top: 19.5mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 17mm
Weight: 300g

Powerful, bright and direct sound with a forceful Ro. Ideal for classic honkyoku and melodic solo playing. Beautiful smoked and shaved bamboo, revealing a complex texture full of depth.

Meiji/Taisho period 1.7

TC23
Early 1900s
Myoan

Maker: unknown
Length: 1.7 shaku / 518mm
Pitch: D/D#
Price: $500

Hole diameter: 9.5mm
Bore diameter @ top: 19mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 15mm
Weight: 280g

A solid, century-old shakuhachi made in the traditional style. Carefully crafted and carved with the owner or maker's name. This flute is fully capable of playing the classic Myoan honkyoku repertoire.

Urushi-coated Edo period 1.7

TC27
Late 1700s/early 1800s
Komuso

Maker: unknown
Length: 1.68 shaku / 510mm
Price: $1,000

Hole diameter: 9mm
Bore diameter @ top: 18.5mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 14mm
Weight: 220g

Exceptionally rare and well-preserved flute from the mid-Edo period. Body fully coated with urushi lacquer, giving a smooth and remarkably profound black/brown finish that has protected this instrument for over 200 years. A strong player, with a haunting sound that transports you back to the days of the wandering komuso monks.
The utaguchi inlay has been replaced, and the finger holes were slightly enlarged at some point to improve its sound projection.

Early-Edo 1.7 by Kokyo 1

TC31
Late 1600s/early 1700s
Komuso

Price: Interesting trades considered

This incredibly rare Shakuhachi was discovered at the Toji fair in Kyoto and then later re-emerged in Hokkaido. It is one of the few remaining playable instruments made by the Kokyo the First. Flutes of this age and quality are priceless relics.

Kinko-ryu 1.9 jinashi

TC32
Mid 1900s
Kinko-ryu

Maker: Unidentified - stamped
Length: 1.92 shaku / 585mm
Pitch: C#
Price: $400

Hole diameter: 10mm
Bore diameter @ top: 21-22mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 19-20mm
Weight: 320g

This uniquely-decorated 1.9 was clearly a cherished shakuhachi. It features an elaborate hand-carved maker's hanko, along with two Buddhist seed syllables in siddham script carved into the root. Musically it is competent. The utaguchi inlay has been replaced.

Early Edo period jinashi

TC36
1600s
Komuso

Maker: Unidentified - stamped
Length: 1.6 shaku
Price: $5,000

Hole diameter: 8mm
Bore diameter @ top: 18-19mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 15mm

This stunning, ancient shakuhachi has a mind-blowing tone that will transport you to the distant past. Its sound is profound, with rich high tones like birdsong.

The beautifully-curved, wabi-sabi bamboo shows centuries of wear and careful playing. Meeting this flute is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Mid-Edo period 1.6 by Yochiku

TC36
c1800
Komuso

Maker: Yochiku
Length: 1.6 shaku / 480mm
Pitch: D# / E
Price: Interesting trades considered

Hole diameter: 11-13mm
Bore diameter @ top: 24mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 19mm
Weight: 300g

This remarkable 1.6 has a super-wide bore and extremely large, oval holes. It has a powerful, moving tone that doesn't sacrifice any of its richness in exchange for its punch. The quality of this flute is unparalleled. It's easily among the best antique jinashi shakuhachi we at Tube Collective have ever played.

3.2 by Watazumi

TC62
Mid-20th C
Myoan

Maker: Watazumi Doso Roshi
Length: 3.2 shaku / 970mm
Pitch: Difficult to measure
Price: Interesting trades considered

This is a gigantic tube owned, played, stamped and presumably made by Watazumido. He can be seen posing with this flute in several photographs. 3 hanko, 2 different types. 1.8 in the first picture for size comparison.

A previous owner moved the holes from an inline position on the front to be played lefty (this may have been done by Watazumi himself, or one of his students). Thumb was always lefty but now, more so.

Watazumi was known to make both 'playing' tubes and 'posing' tubes. This one may have been made for photographic impact and later adapted to a more playable reach.

Taisho/early Showa -era 1.8 Myoan

TC62
c.1920s-40s
Myoan

Maker: Unknown
Length: 1.8 shaku / 540mm
Pitch: Flat of D
Price: $700 (SOLD)

Hole diameter: 10-11mm
Bore diameter @ top: 20.5-21mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 17mm

A very solid 1.8 for Myoan style honkyoku. Ideal for a serious student or somebody looking for an antique shakuhachi that can be carried and played hard. Musically excellent, it has a great "old bamboo" tone and plays all of the advanced techniques used in the Fuke Myoan (Taizan-Ha) repertoire.

Made from extremely thick bamboo with a nice upward curve at the root. Fairly large holes for a flute of its age, so it has good volume. It has a false-nakatsugi with rattan wrap. The utaguchi inlay was replaced with plastic in the past.

Skinned Edo period 1.9 w/ decorative rattan

TC29
Mid 1800s
Komuso

Maker: Unknown
Length: 1.9 shaku / 575mm
Price: $600 (SOLD)

Hole diameter: 9.5 - 10mm
Bore diameter @ top: 20mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 18mm
Weight: 260g

This stunning ancient flute is made from susudake (smoked bamboo) which has had its skin carefully shaved off. It's ornamented with complex, decorative rattan bindings and a bone utaguchi inlay. It's a competent player that can handle all the essential honkyoku techniques.

Taisho/Showa-era 1.8 Kinko Jinashi

TC67
First half of the 1900s
Kinko-ryu

Maker: Unknown
Length: 1.8 shaku / 545mm
Pitch: Around D
Price: $450 (SOLD)

Hole diameter: 10mm
Bore diameter @ top: 20mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 17.5mm

This Kinko jinashi is a strong player, with a solid tone and even response across its full range. The bore is slightly narrow, giving it a dynamic and light sound. Towari tuning, made for honkyoku playing.

Renowned jinashi maker Murai Eigoro played this flute and praised its tone quality.

Seien-ryu 1.5

TC30
Late 1800s/early 1900s
Seien-ryu

Maker: Unknown
Length: 1.54 shaku / 465mm
Pitch:
Price: $1,000 (SOLD)

This skinny flute rewards a devoted player with a hauntingly beautiful tone from the past. The Seien-ryu style is uncommon, and quality antique flutes from this school are extremely rare.

Signed narrow-bore Edo period 1.7

TC28
Early-mid 1800s
Komuso

Maker: Unidentified - stamped
Length: 1.69 shaku / 511mm
Price: $600 (SOLD)

Hole diameter: 8mm
Bore diameter @ top: 18mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 14mm
Weight: 220g

Write description:
An iconic Edo-style flute. A narrow bore and small holes create a bright, bird-like sound.
Edo period flutes with maker's marks like this are rare. Most were made by amateur monks, and there were few established professional makers.

Meiji-era 1.9 Kinko Jinashi

TC25
Early 1900s
Kinko-ryu

Maker: Unknown
Length: 1.9 shaku / 575mm
Pitch: C#
Price: $1,000 (SOLD)

Hole diameter: 10.5-11mm
Bore diameter @ top: 22mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 19mm
Weight:

This early Kinko jinashi has a powerful & rich antique-bamboo tone. It has all the depth of a classical jinashi with the volume and response required for demanding Kinko honkyoku or ensemble playing. A fabulous relic of a transitional period before jiari dominated Kinko-style instruments.

Meiji/Taisho-era 1.9 Myoan

TC65
Early 1900s
Myoan (Kansai)

Maker: Unknown
Length: 1.9 shaku / 575mm
Pitch: C#
Price: $800 (SOLD)

Hole diameter: 10mm
Bore diameter @ top: 22mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 18mm

The rich, deep overtones of an antique Myoan flute are complemented with a powerful sound and wide range. This remarkable jinashi plays the full daikan range .

This turn of the century flute comes from the Kansai area, and may have been linked with the revived Myoan-ji temple in Kyoto.

Kinko 1.8 with carvings

TC24
Mid 1900s
Kinko-ryu

Maker: unknown
Length: 1.82 shaku / 554mm
Pitch: C#/D
Price: $500 (SOLD)

Hole diameter: 11mm
Bore diameter @ top: 22 - 22.5mm
Bore diameter @ bottom: 18mm
Weight: 280g

This flute has an austere, functional tone and solid playability. It's a unique work of art from a visual standpoint, with delicate landscapes and calligraphy covering almost the entire instrument.