Vertical Flute (Shakuhachi)

尺八

At a glance — Art Object · Nara period, 8th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category: Art Objects
Period: Nara period, 8th century
Date: 701–800
Held by: Tokyo National Museum
Location: Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID: cobas-117751

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Same period: Nara art objects →
At this museum: All 1632 works here →

The shakuhachi is a vertical flute that was used in tōgaku, a courtly performing art introduced from Tang-dynasty China (618–907). This one is made of a bamboo stalk with three nodes and has a crescent-shaped mouthpiece. Five finger holes are on the front, and one is on the back. Similar examples of this distinct ancient instrument are also found in the Shōsōin Imperial Repository in Nara.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-117751 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-117751
Holder's collection: ColBase — Tokyo National Museum
Photograph: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Vertical Flute (Shakuhachi)（尺八）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-117751. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/vertical-flute-shakuhachi/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)