The earliest shakuhachi was made from the middle section of the bamboo. At some point, the bottom root area came into use. It is rumoured that the shakuhachi as a rootend instrument was developed as a result of using the flute as a weapon by the Samurai. The root end is heavier and stronger. What we do know is that the bore of the shakuhachi narrows as it nears the root. This enables the second octave to play in pitch thus giving the shakuhachi it's unique and distinctive sound.

Read Riley lee's dissertation on shakuhachi history here.