Koten Honkyoku: Jimpo Sanya (Chikuho Lineage) 神保三谷

‘San’ya (literally, “three valleys“) refers to a semi-mythical location in China. The beauty of San’ya’s landscape is legendary and its people are said to be enlightened. As shakuhachi music can be interpreted freely by the player, there are many versions of a piece named after San’ya. Valley San’ya, Mountain San’ya, Echigo San’ya, Futaiken San’ya. Jimpo San’ya was a version of San’ya played by a komuso (wandering priest of the Fuke sect of Zen) named Jimpo. It is said Jimpo played only one piece on the sha