The size of Koto

Generally, Koto has 13 strings. The length is about 182cm and the width is 27cm.

In spite of the many improvements have been made on the Koto from 8th century to modern times, the length has not so changed.

On the other hand, there is a short type of Koto called “Tangoto” (about 82-160cm in length).

Now a day, Tangoto is becoming popular because of the convenience to keep, carry and use at school.

But it is not just recently that the Tangoto was developed.

It had been made already in the Edo period (over 400 years ago) for children or to play in the middle of the journey.

The most of difference between Koto and Tangoto is the sound.

When the instrument becomes smaller, the strings become shorter and the sounds become higher and harsher.

The 180cm-190cm length is indispensable to make the smooth tone and the soft reverberation.

In the Meiji period (19th century), Japanese music met the western music.

Along with that, many players of Koto came to want lower sound more than the high-pitched sound to express various music.

In 1921, Miyagi Michio invented the 17-string Koto (213cm×33cm) to play the lower tone.

He also tried to make the 80-string Koto in 1929. It was made in imitation of the Piano which has 88 keyboards.

30-string Koto (235cm×56cn) in 1955, 20-string Koto in 1969, 25-string Koto (181.5cm×27.5cm) in 1991 were invented.

Now a day, there is a strange Koto called “Man’yogoto” which can coordinate the pitch of the low sound.

I don’t know other instruments that have been improving over the millennium.

I suppose the Koto will continue being improved whenever it meets other new music.

The Koto will be developed forever, I think.

References:

箏と筝曲を知る辞典　宮崎まゆみ著　東京堂出版2009