moso biwa

The mōsō biwa is a type of Japanese lute traditionally played by blind Buddhist monks for chanting sutras. It is a variant of the biwa, a pear-shaped instrument with silk strings and a shallow, rounded back, played with a large plectrum called a bachi. The biwa is related to the Chinese pipa and was introduced to Japan in the late 7th century. Over time, different types of biwa emerged, each with specific uses and performance techniques. The mōsō biwa tradition, once divided into Chikuzen and Satsuma schools, experienced a revival in the late 19th century, with new schools focusing on military themes.12