Here’s an exceptional article and a quick lesson in a facet of Japanese history. “Komuso: Japanese Zen Priest, A chance encounter with a vision from Japan’s past” includes photos video footage of modern-day Komuso, shakuhachi-playing Buddhist priests.

Posted on OhmyNews International (the English-language version of and incredibly cool Korea-based citizen journalism site), the story was written by David M. Weber. Here’s a quick excerpt:

The shakuhachi player was dressed as a komuso, a type of Zen Buddhist priest who once wandered throughout old Japan playing their flutes for alms and meditation. Like some kind of ghost, the komuso just stood there playing his flute while people walked around him practically ignoring him as he ignored them. It seemed a thing unreal.

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