Chōsō

The chōsō [超僧; ちょうそう] were nomadic monks of the Kantonese medieval era (1200s-1600s) whose presence in wider culture grew significantly during the 15th and 16th centuries. They were characterised by their chissaro cloaks, humble clothing, and white masks. They were known for playing solo pieces on bamboo flutes known as dangu. These melodies, known as wakyū, were played in public spaces in return for alms; chōsō could also be hired to play at temple ceremonies or events such as weddings and funerals.
Chōsō could travel alone or in groups called sōgotsu. It was considered inauspicious for there to be more than eight members in a sōgotsu, and in fact most chōsō travelled in pairs, or in groups of four. They were known by hundreds of regional and dialectal names; some of the most frequently-recorded include inaga, ōsō, waranaga, sōgyō, and sattane.
== Clothing and appearance ==
Chōsō wore special face coverings called annaga (淤曼), which were traditionally made from a lightweight wood, and painted either white or black, depending on region. These masks, which were featureless except for eye slits and a mouth hole, served to conceal the identity of chōsō and also remove the ego of the wearer. Much like pilgrims (kannōbun), nomad monks were given the rare privilege by the government to travel freely across Kanton without hindrance. It is thought that this was a way for the kunjō to receive firsthand information about conditions in the provinces, the collection of such information eased by the concealed nature of the chōsō. 
Wandering monks also wore specific robes, which were deliberately styled in the humblest of fashion. The outfit, called busō, were dyed drab colours such as brown, black or grey, and consisted simply of a cross-over robe tied at the waist by a long sash. The monks also wore wahashi, straw sandals with additional cloth padding along the soles. From the 1500s onwards, since chōsō became under obligation to the konbūshin of their home province, and were often gifted supplies and funding by them, they would often display the symbol of that house somewhere on their clothing. Their dangu flutes would be carried on the waist, along with small pouches which contained medicine, tobacco, money, alms and keepsakes, along with any other miscellaneous items. Chōsō also wore tenzō shinguards (which were also favoured by pilgrims). It was also common for chōsō to use tobeki walking sticks, which they would commonly 'consult' on which direction to go in.
== Traditions and customs ==
From the 13th century onwards, chōsō routes had been established throughout Kanton; these were standardised trails which were deemed safe, plausible and relatively easy to travel. Hundreds of pathways were created all across the country, most of which have been lost to time or are no longer used due to significant changes in the landscape.
While chōsō were travelling, they spent their time in near silence, treating their journey as a meditative process. Starting from the mid-1400s, nomadic monks began to wear tiny bells on their belts which would announce their presence before they came into sight; these bells were known as teinai and were soon incorporated into the wakyū music that the monks performed. Once chōsō had entered village or town, they would choose a public spot, stand completely still and begin to play their dangu without any preamble. The tune Chōsō Kaze ni Detta (The Chōsō Have Blown In On The Wind) was commonly played first by way of announcing their arrival. Villagers and townsfolk would throw coins or offerings at the feet of the monks in return for the musical entertainment. 
During the 1500s, it became common for chōsō to give dance performances alongside their flute playing. Around this time, larger sōgyotsu also became conventional. Typically, one or two monks would dance while the remainder played wakyū. These dances became known as sōyori.