The biwa (Japanese: 琵琶) is a Japanese short-necked wooden lute traditionally used in narrative storytelling. The biwa is a plucked string instrument that first gained popularity in China before spreading throughout East Asia, eventually reaching …

Although shaped like a Western lute, the Biwa 's back is flat and it has a shallower body. The short neck has four raised frets, each one specifically assigned to one of the left hand fingers. The strings are struck with a hand-held wooden plectrum. …

biwa, Japanese short-necked lute, distinguished by its graceful, pear-shaped body. The biwa has a shallow, rounded back and silk strings (usually four or five) attached to slender lateral pegs. The instrument is played with a large wedge-shaped plectrum called a bachi .

2024年11月26日 · With a pear-shaped body and four to five strings, the biwa is often compared to a lute. Its deep, resonant sound has made it an iconic instrument, particularly associated with narrative storytelling and classical Japanese music.

The Biwa, Japan's plucked lute, is descended from the Chinese pipa in the 7th century. In Japan it was first used in court music (gaku-biwa), then in a smaller version by Buddhist monks (moso-biwa). Later the heike-biwa, used to recite the epic Tale of Heike, combined elements of most and by the 12th century the most popular instrument.

The biwa is a string instrument related to the Arab ûd, the European lute and guitar, and the Chinese pipa. It was introduced to Japan from mainland Asia in the seventh century. A collection of ancient instruments brought from China (Tô era), including a beautifully decorated biwa, still exists in the Shôsô-in (Nara, Japan) which was the ...

The biwa developed into five different types in its long history: Gaku, Heike, Mōsō, Satsuma, and Chikuzen. Each type has different and unique tones, techniques, and musical styles. Gaku-biwa (楽琵琶) This is the original form of biwa that came to Japan in the 8 th century. This type of biwa is used for court music called “gagaku ...

It is said to have made its way into Japan via the Silk Road 1,400 years ago. It is a pear-shaped string instrument belonging to the lute family and has developed independently in Japan, evolving into several styles such as the Heike biwa, Satsuma biwa and Chikuzen biwa among others.

2025年3月20日 · The lute carried the intricate harmonies of Western music, while the biwa preserved Japan’s epic stories, blending history, spirituality, and culture. Both instruments demonstrate the power of cultural exchange and how music has …

A short-necked Japanese lute related to the Chinese pipa. The biwa has a pear-shaped body with a shallow, rounded back and either four or five silk strings attached to slender lateral tuning pegs. It is played by plucking the strings with a large, flared plectrum.