Koten Honkyoku: Kokū ( Yokoyama Lineage)

Koku (Empty Sky) Empty Sky is the usual translation of Koku. It fails, however, to convey the meaning of the original Chinese characters, which by definition, cannot be known by the rational mind of the relative. The second character of the word, ku is easy; it means sky or air. The first character ko is not so easy. It refers to a concept that is in the realm of the Absolute and therefore cannot be explained or understood with words. Words, and indeed our thoughts, are of the world of the relative. For example, the word empty has no meaning apart from the word full. The work ko, on the other hand, does not mean merely empty, because it is not the opposite of full; it is that which has nothing to do with fullness. This piece, transmitted through the Watazumi, Yokoyama lineage of shakuhachi, is one of many versions of Empty Sky, which is one of a trilogy of the oldest and venerated honkyoku, the other two being Empty Bell, and Flute on the Misty Lee Played on a 2. 2