yukimaru's English diary

The other day, I came across a Suikinkutsu in Kyoto
prefecture's botanical garden.

I hadn't known the word "Suikinkutsu" until recently.
Although one of our colleagues is using its sound for
an incoming cell-phone call, when I first heard its sound,
I didn't know what that was.

http://www.suikinkutsu.com/

It is said that its origin can be traced back to the Edo period.

First water drips to the tub on the ground from the bamboo tube.
Next, the water drips from the tub to a jar which is buried upside
down. This jar is drilled with some holes in it's bottom, so the water
drops can go through it. When the water drop falls into the jar it
makes a special sound from under the ground. It sounds like the
tone color of KOTO (a traditional Japanese music instrument).

You listen to the sound from the bamboo tubes which were set
on the side. I think each Suikinkutsu have different sounds,
so if you come across it anywhere, you mustn't miss it.