Satsumabiwa 2 - -Names of parts of the Satsumabiwa

1. Fukuju:

The chinese characters mean "the hand covering". This quite accurately describes the shape of this piece that the strings are attached to. It is described as the most important part of the biwa by some because its shape has a very large bearing on the tone colour of the instrument.

2. I no me or Choojime:

The chinese characters mean "the boars eye" and "the clove eye" respectively. These are the four string holes on the fukuju.

3. Itokake:

The Chinese characters mean "the string stand". This is the straight piece of ivory at the top of the fukuju.

4. Bachimen:

The meaning is "the plectrum area". This is the area of the font of the biwa between the two pieces of ivory running across the body of the instrument. This is the most likely part of the instrument to be decorated with lacquer, etc.

5. Ichi no ito:   The first string.

6. Ni no ito:   The second string.

7. San no ito:   The third string.

8. Shi no ito:   The fourth string.

9. Haraita:

 The Chinese characters mean "the belly board". It describes the whole front board of the biwa. This is usually only about 8 or 9 millimetres in thickness. The back board is up to five or six times this thick and is hollowed out.

10. Hangetsu:

The meaning is "a half moon". These are made from ivory. At their centre there is a sound hole in the haraita.

11. Ge no jyuu or Shimonji:

"The bottom fret". The first term is the present-day name. The second is the term that was used by the old Kagoshima area players.

12. Chuu no jyuu or Nakanji:   "The middle fret". As above.

13. Jyoo no jyuu or Kaminji:  "The top fret". As above.

14. Taikan no jyuu:

The meaning is unclear, but the characters can be translated as "the great shield" or "the great superior". This is used only once or twice in a piece, usually at the high point of the song.

15. Itomaki or Tenju

The meanings are "a string spool" and "turning ones hand" respectively. This is the tuning peg.

16. Toriguchi or Shoogen:

The meaning of the characters is "the birds beak" and "the string receiver". This is usually made from ivory.

1. Doo:

The meaning is "the torso". This is made from mulberry wood. Usually a piece about 4 centimetres thick maximum will be used. It is dug out to create a hollow so that a "sounding box" is created when te front piece is attached.

2. Kesagake or Enzan

The meanings are "the buddhist priest's stole" and "the far mountains" respectively.

3. Tsurukubi or Shishikubi

The meanings are "the crane's neck" and "the deer's neck" respectively.

1. Ebijiri or Kairoobi:

The meaning of the chinese characters is "the prawn's bottom" or "the prawn's tail". It appears to be just a decorative addition to the top of the instrument, but it has a large bearing on the overall volume of the instrument.

2. Genmon:

The meaning of the characters is "the string gate". This is the part which holds the tuning pegs.

3. Itomaki or Tenju:

The meanings are "a string spool" and "turning ones hand" respectively. This is the tuning peg.

4. Jyoochiku or Suketake:

The meaning is "the mounted bamboo" and "the helping bamboo". This is the only bamboo used on the whole of the biwa.

5. Toriguchi or Shoogen: 

The meaning of the characters is "the birds beak" and "the string receiver". This is usually made from ivory.