Computational method captures unique sounds of Japanese water harp caves
A computational framework for the acoustic characterization of Suikinkutsu (water harp cave)
Sound
Summary
Suikinkutsu are special hidden water harp devices found in Japanese temple gardens that make unique sounds. The authors created a computer method to analyze recordings of these sounds using several audio features instead of measuring their physical shape. They found that while these devices share common sound qualities, each has a distinct acoustic profile that varies within and between locations. This new method helps compare and preserve these traditional sound devices digitally.
What this means in practice
- •For garden designers: Identify and compare acoustic qualities of water features to enhance sensory experience in traditional and modern garden settings.
- •For cultural heritage conservators: Create digital acoustic archives of suikinkutsu for preservation and restoration efforts of historic Japanese gardens and temples.
Authors
Paul Haimes, Alarith Uhde, Daniel Moritz Marutschke
Abstract
Suikinkutsu are partially concealed acoustic devices traditionally installed adjacent to stone water basins (tsukubai) in Japanese temple gardens. While previous research has examined their physical acoustics and cultural significance, computational methods for documenting and comparing their acoustic characteristics remain underexplored. This exploratory study introduces a computational framework for analyzing suikinkutsu using spectral and temporal audio features extracted from field recordings. Rather than estimating the physical geometry of individual suikinkutsu, the framework characterizes their acoustic profiles using a multidimensional set of computational descriptors, enabling systematic comparisons between recordings across different sites and installations. Audio recordings from nine suikinkutsu located at temples, shrines, and gardens in the Kansai region of Japan were analyzed using a feature-extraction pipeline that incorporates Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs), Root Mean Square (RMS) energy, spectral centroid, spectral bandwidth, and spectral contrast. The extracted features indicate that, although the suikinkutsu share broadly similar spectral and timbral characteristics, each exhibits a measurably distinct acoustic profile; a supplementary analysis of within-site and between-site variability suggests these profiles reflect a bounded range of characteristic resonant behaviour rather than a fixed acoustic signature. The proposed framework provides one of the first computational approaches for systematically characterizing and comparing suikinkutsu, contributing a practical foundation for future research and the digital preservation of this distinctive form of Japanese environmental design.