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The character in the title of this piece is not Japanese, it's Sanskrit, “Sa.“ and is representative of the death of Buddha; it might be thought of as the Buddhist equivalent to a Christian cross, and is associated with religious austerities. It also represents the “seed“ of Kanzeon (or Kannon) Bosatsu, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, who is called Kwan Yin by the Chinese. There is a legend that the music for this piece was found in the bottom of a statue of Buddha. There is also a tradition that at the dawn of enlightenment, Sashi will be used for the redemption of all living beings, according to the divine and universal revelations of Kannon Bosatsu.(Source: International Shakuhachi Society)
