The satsuma-biwa "emerged from interaction between moso and the samurai class" in Satsuma Province, starting a period of popularity for "modern biwa" until the 1930s, while the chikuzen-biwa had its origin in the 1890s in the Chikuzen region of Kyushu, drawing upon aspects of mōsō music, shamisen, and the satsuma-biwa technique. [13]

Most mōsō biwas have tear-shaped bodies, but this rustic fish-shaped example was probably used by a wandering Buddhist monk. Biwa traditions began with blind priests who traveled from village to village singing sutras. The fish is an auspicious symbol of Buddhism signifying wakeful attention since most fish lack eyelids and remain alert.

Other articles where moso biwa is discussed: Japanese music: Noh music: …the blind-priest lute tradition (moso biwa) in which mendicant monks used to recite sutras (scriptures) from house to house or at temples. More lucrative forms of entertainment grew under the circus acts that developed out of the sangaku (folk theatricals) mentioned above, its companion comic acts, sarugaku (literally ...

2017年9月5日 · The moso-biwa would continue to evolve, with musicians and craftsmen making more variations such as the chikuzen-biwa and satsuma-biwa. The chikuzen-biwa was usually played by Buddhist monks during light exchanges such as singing and storytelling, but it was also used for formal occasions and sacred rites, such as memorial services. ...

2025年3月24日 · Moso-biwa (Blind Monks’ Biwa) Origin: Evolved during the Heian period (794-1185), linked to the blind monks who performed Buddhist chants and stories. Characteristics: Typically has five strings, a slightly smaller body than the Gaku-biwa, and a more subdued tone. The playing technique includes intricate finger work to mimic the human voice ...

The moso biwa was a smaller biwa with a larger plectrum used as solo instrument by blind monks, and it was this type that evolved into the Satsuma biwa, Chikuzen biwa, and other styles of biwa. Blind priests recited epics and ballads of a religious or secular nature. These biwa styles evolved in parallel, not sequentially.

A highly developed type of biwa developed in the early 16th century. Satsuma is the name of a province in Kyushu (Kagoshima). The founder of the Satsuma Biwa is said to be Shimatsu Tadayoshi who collaborated with the blind priest, Fuchiwaki Jucho'in. Originally of the moso biwa tradition, it was altered to get bigger sounds and new lyrics with ...

A 5-fretted moso biwa was played in this 1999 record, of a performer I chanced into back then(Not the one in thumbnail tho, I did not take any photo)In the a...

2022年9月21日 · The difference from gaku-biwa is not a bent head, the string number is XNUMX. Moso. Purpose – musical accompaniment of Buddhist rituals. A distinctive feature is a small size, the absence of a specific shape. The model was a four-string. A variety of moso-biwa is sasa-biwa, used in the rituals of cleansing houses from negativity. Heike.

The biwa (琵琶) is a 4-string lute (sometimes with a 5th string), originally imported from India and China (as the pipa) and then incorporated into the Gagaku orchestra as the Gaku-biwa (雅楽琵琶).Its first incarnation as a solo instrument was the thinner Moso-biwa (盲僧琵琶), used by blind priests (biwa-hoshi) to accompany their Buddhist sutras (chants).