koto, sô = Japanese
zither with bridges < zhêng (Chinese)
koto, kin= Japanese zither
without bridges < Ch'in (Chinese)
(1) Ichigen-kin ([ichi] = one, [gen] = string(s)): Suma no Haru (The
Spring in Suma) by Koike Miyoko.
--Also called "Suma-goto": In the Heian Period, an arictcrat
named Ariwara-no-Yukihara fled from the capital and felt lonely.
He made an instrument to cheer himself up.
--Tenshin, at the left end of the instrument, changes the tension of
the string for tuning.
--Played with Rokan, two "tubes" put on the index finger (right finger)
and the middle finger (left finger).
--These tubes are made of
ivory.
--Ichigen-kin with an octave lower range has been created to do an
ensemble with the original ichigen-kin.
(2) Nigen-kin ([ni] = two)
--Created in Japan in the late Edo Period.
--106 cm (length), 11.5 cm to 12.5 cm (width).
--Also called "Yakumo-goto"
--Tone range: 2 octave and a half
(3) Chinese seven-string zither (qui, Japanese pronunciation: Shichigen-kin)
(4) Jyûshichigen-sô ([jyû-shichi] = seventeen)
--Invented in 1921, by Miyagi Michio (with help of Tanabe Hisao)
to create lower notes on koto.
--Two kinds: Dai-Jyûshichigen (big seventeen-string sô,
245 cm) and Shô-Jyûshichigen (small seventeen-string sô,
210 cm.)
--Dai-Jyûshichigen is more popular today.
(5) Jyûgogen-sô ([jyû-go] = fifteen)
--Very rare instrument invented in 1935.
(4) Nijyûgen-sô ([ni-jyû] = twenty): Meba'e
by Miki Minoru. Perfoemed by Takita Michiko.
--Invented in 1969, by Nosaka Keiko (with help of Miki Minoru).
--The 21st string is added (called the "0" string) in 1971.
This string is not plucked.; it is a finger rest.
--Nijyûgen-sô with 21 strings is widely used in modern
compositions.
(6) Sanjyûgen-sô ( [san-jû] = thirty): by Miyashita
Syûretsu. Performed by Miyashita Tazuko
--Invented in 1955, by Miyashita Syûretsu.
--Combination of usual sô (13 strings) and Jyûshichigen-sô.
(7) Hachijyûgen-sô ([hachi-jyû] = eighty)
--Invented in1928, by Miyagi Michio, lost in WWII, a replica
located in the Miyagi Michio Museum in Tokyo
--Three types of strings are used
--Shamisen strings (high strings), Silk strings (middle), Steel
strings (low)
--All fingers are used; no tsume (pick).
N. B. There are also the koto with 18, 22, and 25 strings.
(8) Rokudan-no-Shirabe, performed on various koto.