J ● T| Japanese Traditions and culture

The Japanese Aesthetic of Sound

In Japanese traditional culture, sound is not merely acoustic noise, but an essential element for feeling the seasons and healing the soul. Wind chimes (furin) and suikinkutsu water features, in particular, represent the “sonic landscapes” that Japanese people have cherished since ancient times. This article provides a detailed introduction to wind chimes, a symbol of summer, and suikinkutsu, the hidden acoustic art of Japanese gardens.

Furin (Wind Chimes) – The Cool Sounds of Summer

What Are Wind Chimes?

Wind chimes are traditional Japanese ornaments hung from eaves that produce sound when moved by the wind. Made from metal, glass, or ceramic in a bell shape, they feature a piece called the “tongue” (zetsu) attached to strips of paper. When the wind blows, the tongue strikes the body of the chime, creating beautiful tones.

The History of Wind Chimes

The origins of wind chimes date back to ancient times, derived from “fuutaku,” a Buddhist implement brought from China. During the Heian period, they were hung at aristocratic residences as protective talismans against evil spirits. In the Edo period, glass wind chimes became widespread and popular among common people. Initially serving as lucky charms to ward off epidemics and negative energy, they gradually evolved into summer decorations for feeling cool and refreshed.

Types of Wind Chimes

Throughout Japan, various types of wind chimes exist, each with distinctive characteristics.

Edo Furin are traditional crafts from Tokyo, featuring transparent glass with vibrant painted designs. The technique of painting from the inside is characteristic, showcasing the high skill of artisans.

Nanbu Furin are made from Nambu ironware in Iwate Prefecture. These cast iron wind chimes are known for their deep, resonant tones with long-lasting echoes, and have been selected as one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan to Be Preserved.”

Odawara Furin are traditional crafts from Odawara City in Kanagawa Prefecture, made of brass cast in wooden molds. They are prized for their calm, deep tones.

Myochin Hibashi Furin are wind chimes made from fire tongs passed down through the Myochin family of Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. They are characterized by the clear, high-pitched sound produced when the metal pieces touch each other.

The Japanese Aesthetic of Feeling Cool Through Sound

The greatest appeal of wind chimes lies in their refreshing sound. Japan has a unique aesthetic of “feeling coolness through sound.” This represents a refined sensitivity that perceives seasons not only through sight and touch, but also through hearing. Research has shown that listening to wind chimes on hot summer days can actually lower perceived body temperature, providing not just psychological but also physiological cooling effects.

The irregular sound of wind chimes swaying in the breeze symbolizes Japanese culture’s emphasis on harmony with nature. Perceiving the invisible wind through sound is another distinctly Japanese sensibility.

Suikinkutsu – The Hidden Sonic Mystery of Gardens

What Is Suikinkutsu?

Suikinkutsu is a type of acoustic device installed in Japanese gardens. It creates koto-like beautiful tones by dropping water into an inverted jar buried underground. The mystical sounds resonating from beneath the unseen earth have captivated many people throughout history.

Structure and Mechanism of Suikinkutsu

A suikinkutsu consists of an inverted jar with a small hole at the bottom, buried underground with stones arranged on top as a drainage facility. Water flowing from a chozubachi (water basin) passes through the gaps between stones and drips into the jar, creating beautiful sounds that resonate within.

The tone varies depending on the jar’s size and shape, and the height and speed of the water drops. When water droplets fall onto the water surface collected at the bottom of the jar, they produce clear high-pitched sounds like “pohn” and “cheen,” which reverberate throughout the jar, creating mystical echoes.

The History of Suikinkutsu

Suikinkutsu are believed to have been devised during the Edo period. Initially, they had a strong practical aspect as garden drainage facilities, but gradually their beautiful sounds attracted attention, and they developed as elegant features in tea gardens and Japanese gardens.

After the Meiji era, they temporarily declined, but regained attention from the late Showa period. Today, they can be enjoyed at shrines, temples, Japanese gardens, and parks throughout the country. In recent years, more people are installing them in private gardens, discovering new value alongside the revival of traditional culture.

How to Enjoy Suikinkutsu

To hear the sounds of suikinkutsu, you bring your ear close to the ground or use a “kikizutsu” (listening tube) made of bamboo. The listening tube is a bamboo pipe placed above the suikinkutsu, designed to efficiently channel the underground sounds. When you listen quietly, you can hear koto-like beautiful tones emanating from beneath the earth.

The sound of suikinkutsu changes depending on conditions such as water volume, how it falls, temperature, and humidity. Even the same suikinkutsu can produce different sounds depending on the season and time of day, which is one of its charms.

What Japanese Soundscapes Convey

What wind chimes and suikinkutsu have in common is that they produce sound by borrowing the power of nature. Utilizing natural phenomena like wind and water and transforming them into beautiful tones for enjoyment reflects the wisdom and aesthetic sense of Japanese people who have lived in harmony with nature.

Moreover, these sounds are never constant but change according to wind strength and water volume. This irregularity and unpredictability prevent listeners from becoming bored and instead allow them to feel the transience of nature.

In modern society, such natural soundscapes are being lost due to urbanization and increasing machine noise. That is why it is important to carefully preserve traditional sound cultures like wind chimes and suikinkutsu and pass them on to the next generation.

Conclusion

Wind chimes and suikinkutsu symbolize the “culture of enjoying sound” that Japanese people have cultivated. Valuing not only visual beauty but also auditory beauty—this delicate sensitivity speaks to the depth of Japanese culture.

When visiting Japan, please take time to listen to the sounds of summer wind chimes and quietly place your ear to a listening tube at a garden suikinkutsu. There awaits a special beauty and healing that can only be experienced through sound, beyond what sight can offer. We hope you will discover new charms of Japanese culture through these soundscapes.