Wagon

Japanese: 和琴 - わごん

One of the Japanese zither-family string instruments. Formerly known as "Yamatogoto" or "Azumagoto," it was widely used in the Heian period as an accompaniment for musical instruments and singing at leisure for men and women of the aristocracy. It then fell into decline with the decline of the aristocracy, and now it barely survives in very limited settings, mainly Shinto-related gagaku performances, such as ceremonies related to the Imperial family, gagaku performances at the Imperial Court, and memorial services at shrines and temples.

Historically, there are many examples that suggest a connection to the wagon, such as spatula-shaped wooden products with protruding edges unearthed from Jomon ruins, the tonkori (five-stringed harp) currently handed down by the Ainu, and wooden products with protruding edges unearthed from Yayoi ruins. As for the "koto" depicted on the haniwa clay figurines of people playing the harp unearthed from ancient tomb ruins, this possibility is extremely strong. The wagon thought to be a Nara period relic preserved in Shosoin is definitely connected to the current wagon. Wagons from the Nara and Heian periods are lacquered all over, just like the koto of that era, and many have patterns painted on the top plate using makie or other techniques. In the Middle Ages, decoration was omitted and the body was left bare, resulting in the appearance of the current wagon.

The body of a modern wagon is about 190 centimeters long, 15 centimeters wide at the top end, and 24 centimeters wide at the tail end. It is made by gluing a back board to a top board with carved sides. It is hollow inside. The tail end of the top board is shaped like six protrusions. It is usually made of paulownia wood. Six silk strings that have been twisted to make them thick are stretched across this body. Each string is tuned by setting up a pillar, from front to back: D ₄ ―A ₃ ―D ₃ _―B ₃ ―G ₃ ―E ₃ (for Kagura and Kumeuta), F ^# ₄ ―C ^# ₄ ―B ₃ ―A ₄ ―E 4 ―A ₃ (for Azuma asobi), etc. The pillars are made from the forks of maple branches. The pillars are about 6.5 centimeters high. When playing, a spatula-shaped pick (kotosagi) made of tortoiseshell or buffalo horn, about 7.5 centimeters long, is held in the right hand. The six strings are usually plucked in order or plucked in order with the left finger, and this is repeated many times from beginning to end. As a result, the melody always remains the same, and there is little originality in each piece.

[Mayumi Miyazaki]

[Reference] | Gagaku

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

日本のチター属弦楽器の一つ。かつては「やまとごと」「あずまごと」などともよばれ、平安時代は貴族の男女の遊びの場で楽器演奏や歌の伴奏に盛んに使われた。その後、貴族の没落とともに衰退し、現在では皇室関係の儀式、宮中雅楽演奏、神社・寺院の法要など、おもに神道(しんとう)系雅楽演奏の、ごく限られた場でのみかろうじてその存在を保っている。

　歴史的にみると、縄文遺跡から出土するへら状の突起形木製品、現在アイヌに伝承されているトンコリ（五弦琴）、弥生(やよい)遺跡から出土する突起形木製品など、和琴との関連を示唆する例が多い。古墳遺跡から出土する埴輪(はにわ)の弾琴像に表されている「こと」に至っては、きわめてその可能性が強い。正倉院に伝来する奈良時代遺物と考えられる和琴は、確実に現行和琴につながる。奈良・平安時代の和琴は、その時代の箏(こと)と同様に本体全体に漆塗りをし、表板には蒔絵(まきえ)などで文様を描いた例が多い。中世になると装飾が省かれ、本体は素地(きじ)のままの方向をたどり、現行和琴のような外観となる。

　現行和琴の本体の長さは約190センチメートル、頭端(ずたん)幅は約15センチメートル、尾端(びたん)幅は約24センチメートル。側面をくり出した表板に裏板を接着してつくる。中は空洞。表板の尾端は6本の突起状形につくる。材質は桐(きり)が多い。この本体に、撚(よ)って太くした絹糸弦が6本張られる。各弦は手前から、D₄―A₃―D₃―B₃―G₃―E₃（神楽(かぐら)・久米歌(くめうた)用）、F^#₄―C^#₄―B₃―A₄―E₄―A₃（東遊(あずまあそび)用）などのように、柱(じ)を立てて調律される。柱はカエデの枝の二(ふた)また部分をそのまま利用する。柱の高さは約6.5センチメートル。演奏に際しては、長さ約7.5センチメートルのべっこうまたは水牛角製のへら状ピック（琴軋(ことさぎ)）を右手に持って弾く。6本の弦を順番に弾くか、あるいは左指で順番にはじく奏法が主で、これらを最初から最後まで何度も繰り返す。そのため、つねに同様な旋律が生ずる結果となり、曲ごとによるオリジナリティーはほとんど認められない。