What it sounds like, and the records to hear it on.
The shakuhachi (尺八 (しゃくはち)?, pronounced [ɕakɯhatɕi]) is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of suizen (吹禅?, blowing meditation). Its soulful sound made it popular in 1980s pop music in the English-speaking world. They are often made in the minor pentatonic scale. he name shakuhachi means "1.8 shaku", referring to its size. It is a compound of two words: .