Mid-Century Japanese Artist Illustration, Playing the Satsuma Biwa

Description

A beautifully drawn and painted mid-century Japanese artist illustration featuring a man playing the Japanese Satsuma Biwa, often used in … more A beautifully drawn and painted mid-century Japanese artist illustration featuring a man playing the Japanese Satsuma Biwa, often used in courting traditions.

Japanese Satsuma Biwa
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. less