Fue come in many varieties, but are generally high-pitched and made of a bamboo called shinobue.
[4] The gabachi instrument eventually made its way over to Japan from China in the 5th century,[5] becoming prevalent during the Nara Period.
Soon after the introduction of fue instruments, members of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism made normal use of the shakuhachi.
These "priests of nothingness" viewed the instruments as spiritual tools, using them for suizen, or "blowing meditation".
[6] Modern fue performance may feature a soloist or involve either a chamber or large ensemble of the instruments.