Satsuma Biwa (薩摩琵琶)

Unknown

ca. 1800 · Wood, mother-of-pearl and ivory · Musical Instruments

This lute came to Japan in the seventh century. Several types of biwa have been developed to suit different genres and performance styles. Unlike the modern Chinese pipa, the biwa is played with a triangular-shaped plectrum and is held more horizontally. Biwa music includes a repertoire derived from court narrative traditions and others from Buddhist sutra recitation.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1800

Medium

Wood, mother-of-pearl and ivory

Culture

Japanese

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1968