Biwa
/ˈbiː.wə/noun
A traditional Japanese short-necked, pear-shaped lute with four or five strings.
Did you know?Biwa players historically used the instrument to perform epic Buddhist narratives, including stories of battles, spirits, and karmic fate.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
琵琶 (pípá)
“A pear-shaped plucked string instrument; the term is traditionally associated with the forward-and-back motions of playing.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
pípá
“The name of a Chinese lute, transmitted across East Asia.”
8th Century
Japanese
biwa
“A Japanese adaptation of the Chinese lute and its name.”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
琵琶 (biwa)
“A lute used in court music, Buddhist narrative performance, and epic storytelling.”
Modern English
English
biwa
“A Japanese lute, especially one used in traditional music and narrative performance.”