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. 13_c_) 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. 13_a_). 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.
[Illustration: 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.
The _shêng_ (described on p. 42) is also popular in Japan. The Japanese name for it is _shō_. The general name in Japanese for the drum is _taiko_ (= Chinese _ta ku_, “large drum”). The Japanese have a great variety of drums, some of which are used at religious ceremonies in the temples. The _shime-daiko_ is a shallow drum hung obliquely before the player in a low wooden frame. It is beaten with two plain sticks, and is used to accompany singers. The _tsudzumi_ is a small hand-drum with hour-glass-shaped body.