History of Koto.
Koto is originally imported from China in the 8th century to Kyoto where imperial court was. Depending on the types of performances, the Koto instruments can divide in three broad categories, Gakuso, Chukuso (Tsukushigoto/Tsukushi ryu), and Zokuso (Ikutagoto/ Ikuta ryu).
The word “ryu(流)” means the ways of performing, and it often the indication of the name of school or teacher.
Gakuso is the first version of Koto in Japan. It was used for Gagaku and court music. Chikuso is played for the Tsukushigoto or Tsukushi-ryu, which was founded by the priest Kenjun (1534-1623), in Tsukushi, Kyushu.
Today, the area of Tsukushi applies to the region of Fukuoka and Saga prefectures. While the priest Kenjun’s had been taking the leadership, Chikuso was only taught to Buddhist priests, Confucian scholars, and noblemen, and not for women and blind men; however, the tradition had changed when Noda Choso accepted four female students due to the luck of players in around 1970s.
The word “ryu(流)” means the ways of performing, and it often the indication of the name of school or teacher.
Gakuso is the first version of Koto in Japan. It was used for Gagaku and court music. Chikuso is played for the Tsukushigoto or Tsukushi-ryu, which was founded by the priest Kenjun (1534-1623), in Tsukushi, Kyushu.
Today, the area of Tsukushi applies to the region of Fukuoka and Saga prefectures. While the priest Kenjun’s had been taking the leadership, Chikuso was only taught to Buddhist priests, Confucian scholars, and noblemen, and not for women and blind men; however, the tradition had changed when Noda Choso accepted four female students due to the luck of players in around 1970s.