The , also known as the ("box ") or ("board "), is a traditional Japanese three-stringed plucked instrument, often regarded as either a relative or derivative of the , itself a relative of the . The gottan is primarily performed publicly in the

Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan's Japanese archipelago, four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa Island, Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Ryukyu Islands, Islands ...

region, especially in

prefectures A prefecture (from the Latin word, "''praefectura"'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain inter ...

Kagoshima , is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 583,966 in 285,992 households, and a population density of 1100 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Etymology While the ...

and Miyazaki.

Overview

The gottan has been preserved as a form of entertainment since around the 1500s, primarily serving as an accompaniment instrument for traditional folk songs (''

min'yō , ''Nihon min'yō'', Japanese ''min'yō'' or Japanese folk music is a genre of traditional Music of Japan, Japanese music. Characteristics Styles Many ''min'yō'' are connected to forms of work or to specific trades and were originally su ...

''). It spread widely across various regions of

as a musical instrument of the common people. In addition to its use among the general public, it was also played by Buddhist monks and in ''

kagura is a type of Shinto ritual ceremonial dance. The term is a contraction of the phrase , indicating the presence of gods () in the practice. One major function of is , involving a procession-trance process. Usually a female shaman will perfor ...

'' rituals at Shinto shrines, making it an integral part of daily life in medieval Kyushu. It is considered one of the representative instruments of the region. Through cultural exchange with the

Ryukyu Kingdom The Ryukyu Kingdom was a kingdom in the Ryukyu Islands from 1429 to 1879. It was ruled as a Tributary system of China, tributary state of Ming dynasty, imperial Ming China by the King of Ryukyu, Ryukyuan monarchy, who unified Okinawa Island t ...

(present-day

Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...

), the gottan has incorporated elements of

Ryukyuan music , also called , is an umbrella term that encompasses diverse musical traditions of the Amami, Okinawa, Miyako and Yaeyama Islands of southwestern Japan. The term of is preferred by scholars in this field. The word "Ryūkyū" originally referre ...

, particularly due to its compatibility with the ''sanshin''. As such, it is regarded as an instrument influenced by Okinawan musical traditions. Although the number of players and makers has declined in recent years, gottan classes still exist in various parts of Kyushu, such as

, Miyazaki, and

Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...

, in efforts to preserve local identity. Thanks to these efforts, many young performers have taken up the instrument, which continues to be played by people of all ages.

Differences

The major difference between a and a is that the body of a tends to be made of a hollowed wooden cavity covered with a type of membrane, whereas the whole of a – body,

neck The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...

, and all – is made up of solid wood, usually of a single type, often

Japanese cedar ''Cryptomeria'' (literally "hidden parts") is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae. It includes only one species, ''Cryptomeria japonica'' ( syn. ''Cupressus japonica'' L.f.). It is considered to be endemic to Japan, ...

. The 's musical repertoire is often light and cheerful, including many folk songs. Like the , it was used for door-to-door musical busking, known as . Often the is compared to the , an Okinawan instrument related to the , due to its relative inexpensiveness (made from a used metal can) and ease of construction. The equivalent all-wood Okinawan instrument is the .

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gottan Japanese musical instruments