Ryu Soro

• Born: 1714
• Died: 1792
• Other Names: 龍公美 (Ryû Kôbi)
• Japanese: 龍 草廬 (Ryû Sôro)

Ryû Sôro, also known by his art-name Ryû Kôbi, was a Confucian scholar, koto player, and poet. A resident of Kyoto for almost twenty years, he authored many works including at least one notable set of koto scores, and was closely involved with a circle of performers of Ming-style music, under the tutelage of Gi Shimei.

Ryû contributed the Foreword (jo) for Gi Shimei's book of Ming music, the 1768 Gishi gakufu.

References

• Britten Dean, “Mr. Gi’s Music Book: An Annotated Translation of Gi Shimei’s Gi-shi gakufu,” Monumenta Nipponica 37:3 (1982), 320.