Sho describes the light from heaven, Ryuteki flute describes dragon's voice swimming between heaven and the earth, and the Hichiriki flute describes the human voice existing here on earth.
笙は天から差し込む光、龍笛は天と地の間を泳ぐ龍の声、篳篥は地に在る人の声をそれぞれ表すという。