Suikinkutsu

A Suikinkutsu (in Japanese水 琴 窟), also known as "water koto cave " is a form of Japanese Gartenornamentik and also a musical element. The Suikinkutsu consists mainly of an upside-down pot with a hole at its top. Through the hole water dripping into the interior, where a small pool of water is included, and this produces a splash tone that sounds inside the pot like a bell or a string of well-known as Koto Japanese jitter. Normally, the Suikinkutsu is near a traditional Japanese stone basin, which is called chozubachi and is part of the tsukubai, the apparatus for washing hands before the Japanese tea ceremony.

Traditional construction

The construction of a Suikinkutsu is more difficult than it seems, since all components must be finely tuned to each other to produce a melodious sound. The most important part of the body is the vessel, the upside buried in the floor pan. Normally this pots are used, which are available as a container for rice or water, while both glazed as well as unglazed pots can be used. Nowadays even metal Suikinkutsu are available. As cheapest pots, however, unglazed pots have been established since the rough surface helps in the formation of the drops. The height of the pot can vary from 30 centimeters to one meter, at a diameter of 30 to 50 centimeters. The hole at the top has a diameter of about two centimeters. Just as a bell in the pot a good Suikinkutsu should sound when it strikes, being a vessel with a good sound also provides a good Suikinkutsu. In contrast, a broken pot does not produce good tone and can not be used for a Suikinkutsu.

The Suikinkutsu normally rests in a bed of gravel. The area under the pot is often concreted so that a puddle can accumulate, but sometimes it is also easy from fixed- beaten soil or clay. A drainage allows the drain, so the water can not rise too high. Cover on the top of the pot larger stones the same completely. Traditional Suikinkutsu are always located near a hand wash basin, the chozubachi, the Suikinkutsu is always between the pelvis and the first Wegstein in front of the pool. Materials and workmanship of the Suikinkutsu can vary greatly depending on the region.

Normally only a single pot is buried in front of a chozubachi. Sometimes there are also installations with two or more Suikinkutsu in front of a pool. Such a dual installation is found for example in front of the castle Iwasaki in Nisshin, Aichi prefecture, on the campus of Takasaki Art Center College in Takasaki in Gunma prefecture or at the University of Kyoto. Characterized in that in these constructions the openings of the individual Suikinkutsu apart more than 50 inches, it is difficult to make the washing of hands, both openings, whereby the openings are normally deliberately sprayed in this case take place by chance during washing.

History

Originally known as the Suikinkutsu tosuimon (洞 水 门), but were used very rarely in Japanese gardens. Probably was originally simply a vessel buried in the garden near the sink to get a drainage system. This reduces the noise created, and the landscape architects were thus encouraged to improve the tone and develop the Suikinkutsu. The name Suikinkutsu received the " water harp " about the middle of the Edo period (1603-1867), in which they constantly gained popularity in Japan. At about the same time was also the stone basin, the chozubachi developed. Especially famous was the Suikinkutsu of the famous master of Japanese tea ceremony Kobori Enshu, which is to today is Suikinkutsu named as the inventor of. At the end of the Edo period, the popularity of Suikinkutsu took off again and rose only during the Meiji period (1867-1912) again.

At the beginning of the 20th century, in the early Shōwa period, both the name Suikinkutsu as well as the workings of the instrument were largely forgotten. A report of the professor Katsuzo Hirayama of the Agricultural University of Tokyo, which he published in 1959, named in Japan only two known Suikinkutsu, and both were filled no longer functional and earth. Appeared in 1982 in the newspaper Asahi Shimbun, an article Suikinkutsu, with the request to the population, nor to appoint more Suikinkutsu in the country, making a number of these instruments could be rediscovered. In 1985, a television report on the Suikinkutsu appeared on television in Japan and led to a new popularity of the installation and refurbishment of multiple Suikinkutsu and chozubachi in the gardens of Japan.

Modern variants

Today there are a number of modern variations of traditional Suikinkutsu. The following list shows some of the possible variations on:

• Modern Suikinkutsu are not always near a traditional chozubachi, as is traditionally required.
• Modern Suikinkutsu can also be equipped with a continuous water flow instead of individual droplets, thereby forming a continuous tone ( suitekion ) instead of a Tropfentons ( ryusuion ) arises.
• As already mentioned above, there are also metal Suikinkutsu today.
• Not all are today Underground Suikinkutsu, there are also a number of Suikinkutsu that are as parts of sculptures above ground.
• Today there are also Suikinkutsu within enclosed spaces.
• In restaurants, shops and other spaces can also be electronically amplified and played through speakers the sound of an internal or external Suikinkutsu.
• An additional pipe may be provided to guide the sound from the cavity of Suikinkutsu to another location, for example, in an interior space.
• Sometimes bamboo tubes are provided, which can be held with one end on the floor to exercise amplifies the sounds on the other end.

Philosophy

An important part behind the idea of Suikinkutsu is that the device is not to be seen. The visitor washes his hand and hear the pleasant murmur from the ground. The act of washing hands can also be viewed as playing the Suikinkutsu because the splashing occurs shortly after hand washing. The clear sound of water droplets is considered to be relaxing and calming and also described as very beautiful and peaceful.

Miscellaneous

In 1995 a CD on the campus of Takasaki Art Center College was recorded and is now marketed by the record company Victor Records. A number of other, mostly Japanese, musicians use Suikinkutsu tones in their recordings as accompaniment sounds. As a leading scientist and musicologist in the environment Suikinkutsu applies today Naoko Tanaka.