The Japanese.
The Japanese musical instruments are in the main derived from those of China, and their names consequently represent the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese sounds.
The biwa ([Fig. 13b]) is almost identical with the Chinese p’i-p’a. The example illustrated is of wood, lacquered black and ornamented with a band of Japanese design in gold lacquer. It has four silken strings, and two very small sound holes.
The samisen (the Chinese san-hsien or “three-stringed guitar") is played especially by the Japanese ladies, and is as great a favourite with them as the lute was formerly with us. An example in the Museum ([Fig. 13c]) has three strings of silk. Both the biwa and the samisen are played with a wooden plectrum. The ko-kiū is the Japanese violin, and resembles a small samisen, but has four strings. It is held head upwards and played with a loose-strung bow.
The Japanese have several instruments of the dulcimer class, called koto (the Chinese ch’in) ([Fig. 13a]). Some species of the koto are played with plectra affixed to the fingers; and there are different successions of intervals adopted in the tuning of the several species.
Fig. 13.—a. Koto (a species of Lute). Japanese. 19th century.
L. 75⅜ in., W. 9½ in. No. 439-’91.
b. Biwa (a species of Guitar).
Modern Japanese.
H. 32½ in., diam. 11 in. No. 838-’6c.
c. Samisen. Japanese.
L. 37½ in. No. 229-’82.
Victoria and Albert Museum.
The ikuta-goto is provided with thirteen movable bridges, by means of which the pitch of the strings is regulated. The bridges are of wood, and about 2½ inches in height. The ikuta-goto is learnt chiefly by Japanese ladies moving in the upper circles of society. It is a rather expensive instrument, and requires much practice. The performer places it on the floor, and, sitting in the usual Japanese attitude, bends over it and twangs the strings with her fingers, the tips of which are encased in plectra, resembling thimbles, which terminate in a little projecting piece of ivory in size and form like the finger nail.
Of wind instruments the Japanese use three principal kinds:—(1) The fuye, like our flute, with six or seven finger-holes; (2) the hichiriki, a reed-flageolet, with seven finger-holes and two thumb-holes; (3) the shakuhachi, a bamboo pipe 20 inches high.