Five-stringed biwa

Japanese: 五弦琵琶 - ごげんびわ

〘Noun〙① An ancient five-stringed biwa. It has five strings and five pillars, a straight string storehouse, and is longer and thinner than the ordinary gagaku biwa. It originated in India, passed through China, and was introduced to Japan during the Nara period. It fell out of use in the mid-Heian period, and one side of it remains in the Shosoin Repository. [Shosoin documents - Tenpyo Shoho 8th year (756), June 21st, Todaiji Temple offerings book]② A modern five-stringed biwa . Nishiki biwa of the Satsuma biwa system, Tsuruta school biwa, and Chikuzen biwa five-stringed. All have four strings plus an additional string, making them five strings and five pillars. However, the fourth and fifth strings of the Tsuruta school are the same tone, and are played as double strings.

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 古代の五弦の琵琶。五弦五柱、糸倉がまっすぐで、普通の雅楽の琵琶に比して細長い。インドに起こり、中国を経て、奈良時代に日本へ伝来。平安中期にはすたれ、正倉院に一面残存。〔正倉院文書‐天平勝宝八年（756）六月二一日・東大寺献物帳〕② 近代の五弦の琵琶。薩摩琵琶系統の錦(にしき)琵琶や、鶴田派の琵琶と、筑前琵琶の五弦。すべて四弦に一弦を加えたもので、五弦五柱。ただし、鶴田派のものは第四、第五両弦は同音で、複弦として弾奏する。

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