Honkyoku (本曲, "original pieces") are the pieces of shakuhachi or hotchiku music played by mendicant Japanese Zen monks called komusō. Komusō played honkyoku for enlightenment and alms as early as the 13th century. Honkyoku is the practice of suizen ("blowing Zen"). The Fuke sect which originated this practice ceased to exist in the 19th century, but a verbal and written lineage of many honkyoku continues today, though the music is now often practiced in a concert or performance setting.
There are many ryū, or schools, of honkyoku, each with their style, emphasis, and teaching methods.