Satsuma Biwa
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 Satsuma-biwa was originally used by samurai in the 17th century for moral training but was also used in other context. From the mid-19th century to about 1915 the satsuma-biwa was one of the most popular instruments. It is played with a large triangular plectrum.
Artwork Details
- Title: Satsuma Biwa
- Maker: Mamoru Ohashi (Japanese, active Ogasa, Shizouka Prefecture 1953–)
- Artist: Kimi Izumi (Japanese, born 1919)
- Date: 1996
- Geography: Ogasa, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Wood, lacquer, nylon
- Dimensions: H. 37¼ in (94.5 cm), W. 13¾ in (35 cm), D. 13 in. (33 cm)
- Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
- Credit Line: Gift of Mamoru Ohashi, 1998
- Object Number: 1998.88
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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