Biwa

The history of Chinese Biwa, a kind of Chinese ancient musical instrument, could be traced back to Qin and Han dynasty, 2,000 years ago. It is a kind of string musical instrument played by two hands like Persian Barbat or Arabian Oud. It was originally in the shape of a vertical kink with a round back, and later a curvilinear kink with an elliptic back after Northern & Southern Dynasty(420-589). In Tang Dynasty (618-907), the craftsmanship of Biwa was promoted to the highest standard by the culture influence of Middle Asia countries and people began to play it by holding it vertically.

As you have a tour in Muogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, a lot of frescoes of court maids playing the Biwa could be seen in many grottoes. You will always be caught by their graceful postures, brilliant colors and exotic musical instrument. With the classic music, a flying Feitian who is a fairy holding a Biwa falls down slowly and gently in a flourishing flowers rain. At the sight of these similar frescoes on Buddhist art, you could imagine how beautiful the Paradise is on the Heaven. Over tens and hundreds of years, Biwa was widely played from public tea house to imperial palace. A great amount of Chinese traditional musical compositions were performed with this popular musical instrument.

Nowadays, Biwa is not only played by actors in restaurant and tea house but also by many well-known Chinese artists in the concert. It has become a kind of elegant national art and the actors are more and more respected in public.