Vibration is the origin of life.
Percussion is the origin of man-made musical and cultural art; it can be said to be the basis of musical history and culture, just as it is in song composition. If we listen carefully, our own heart beats rhythmically.
The ”Taiko” is the traditional percussion of Japanese culture. The ancient origins of taiko are unclear and remain shrouded in various speculations. A Haniwa (ancient Japanese clay) sculpture depicting a drummer with a drum dating from the 600-700 A.D. centuries proves its actual existence since that period. The similarity to the Chinese and Korean drums is apparently very high, and a strong influence from these two cultures cannot be ruled out, which in turn were greatly influenced by all of India especially through Buddhism.
According to these facts, it is not wrong to assume that this instrument has more than 2,000 years of history.
However, most cultural currents diminished their influence around 900 CE, and thus the developments and changes implemented from that time until now can be attributed to native Japanese craftsmen.
The word taiko is composed of two ideograms 太 tai 鼓 ko which literally means big drum. The wooden base is hollowed out from a single tree trunk, and the skins that are applied to both sides of the drum are commonly those of cow and bison which, with their thickness, can be beaten vigorously without tearing.
The sound and vibration of the taiko can shake the foundations of the human heart to such an extent that it was often used in battle during military-order events to intimidate and frighten enemies. It was also used to issue orders and coordinate troop movements, being a powerful instrument that could be heard throughout the battlefield.
In addition to the martial aspect, taiko has always been used in folk, cultural, religious, and spiritual contexts.
In one village simple drum beats were used to signal various activities inside and outside the town core.
The taiko often found part in both Buddhist and Shinto religious ceremonies, a tradition that has endured to the present day-in fact, it is one of the few instruments that could and still can be found in temples and shrines. Monks used it both in daily practice and at consecrations, and since it was considered a sacred instrument only a select few were allowed to use it. Some Buddhists believed that its sound represented the ”voice of the buddha” and was used both to support mantra recitation and during ceremonies and dances. While in Shinto rites it was used to offer and address prayers to deities.
The thunder god, bringer of rain and storms was represented by the taiko that charged with the energy of the universe was beaten to create lightning with each strike. In Japanese folk belief, its vibration is said to be able to purify the environment in which it is played by driving out demons or impurities that inhabit it.
In villages, festivals were celebrated with the sound of the drum, people played it to cheer and elevate the mood. It is from these festivals that most of the traditional rhythms that have remained a source of inspiration for all modern taiko drummers then developed.
Taiko is undoubtedly capable of stimulating our life force, and is able to put us in a condition that best expresses our being and essence. Its vibration is able to create a resonance with the deepest part of us, those we play with and those who listen. Thus it is easy to find a common breath, increasing sensitivity and positive thinking.
This drum requires a considerable amount of energy to be played at its best.
It is therefore necessary to learn the basics of proper body movement to avoid ruining the body and to reach a state where the mind is freed from the fixations to which worldly society accustoms us.
Taiko is considered to be the ”mirror of the soul” because of the way it so simply and directly reflects our condition, both mental and physical, which is immediately identified through practice. The purpose of ‘training is to have the true inner strength awakened, developed and manifested, creating a condition of harmony in the body, heart and mind, to seek to deepen the spirit.
The main direction of every human being’s research and study should be toward life, Taiko can be the tool with which to manifest one’s character and experience from which others can also benefit.
However, posture, movement and concentration are fundamental in the art of Japanese drumming. One must then focus on how the body moves to get to hit the drum, free the mind to hear the sound and resonate with the vibration to get into the rhythm.
Mugen Yahiro