Biwa; lute

Chikuzen biwa, short-necked lute. The back of the body is of mulberry wood of pronounced grain. The table is of kiri wood (paulownia), pierced by two crescent-shaped sound holes within applied ivory crescents. There are five wooden frets, the reflex pegbox terminating in a pentangular finial. The four strings are tuned from large fluted pegs. The post supporting the tailpiece is known as the 'hidden moon'. There is usually a band of leather on the table to protect it from the plectrum. The varnish on the table is not original, as the table of the chikuzen biwa is almost never varnished.