Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑦
Seigen Afuso (1785-1865)
Uta-Sanshin Afuso Ryu (Style) Founder
Master Afuso was born in present day Tera Cho, Shuri, February 15th, 1785. Born to the son of a Magistrate, like his father, he managed Kayo village. He was transferred to Afuso district in Onna District. (Current Onna Village) It was during this time when he changed his name to Afuso. Around 1808, he took classes from Sekko Chinen, eventually becoming Master Chinen’s most senior student.
After Master Chinen`s death, He edited a version of Chinen`s KunKunShi twelve years after the death of his master in 1840. This Chinen kunkunshi is not the same version of Chinen KunKunShi preserved today. Also as well as other famous works dealing with Ryuka (Ryukyu Poetry). `Kadou Youhou` was a document created to give the do’s and don’ts about performing uta-sanshin. He became leader of the Musican accompaniment section for the Unkansen as well.
Master Afuso became founder of one of the two major Styles of classical uta-sanshin. The story goes that King Sho Tai ordered Nomura Ancho to edit the KunKunShi of master Chinen; Creating Nomura Ryu(style). Seigen Afuso sought to preserve the highly personalized, difficult to learn Master Chinen`s performance style. Presently two organizations, Afuso Ryu Gensei Kai (established 1932) and Afuso Ryu Gensei Kyokai (established in 1960) He passed during the winter of 1865.
