小こ切きり子こ

Meanings

clave-like folk instrument; two bamboo pieces beaten together

A traditional Japanese percussion instrument made of two bamboo sticks struck together, used in folk music such as the こきりこ節 (Kokiriko-bushi) from Toyama Prefecture.

こきりこ節ぶしでは、こきりこを打うち鳴ならしながら踊おどる。
In Kokiriko-bushi, they dance while striking the kokiriko together.
この民みん謡ようにはこきりこが欠かかせない。
The kokiriko is indispensable for this folk song.

Kanji

小little, small
切cut, cutoff, be sharp
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
筑an ancient musical instrument

Related words

拍ひょう子し木ぎ
拍子木 are larger wooden clappers used for signaling or keeping rhythm in theater, while こきりこ is a smaller, clave-like instrument specific to certain folk music.
ささら
ささら is a general term for various scraped or struck folk percussion instruments; こきりこ is a specific type of bamboo clapper.

Built from

小こ+切きり子こ

Written forms

小こ切きり子こ
Standard kanji spelling for this traditional instrument.
こきりこUsage100%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji are obscure.
小こ切きり子こ
Variant spelling; less common but still encountered.
筑子こきりこ
Rare ateji spelling; may be seen in historical or specialized contexts.

Etymology

The name こきりこ is likely onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of the bamboo pieces striking together. The kanji spellings are ateji, with 小切り子 suggesting 'small cut pieces' and 筑子 possibly referencing an ancient Chinese instrument, though the exact derivation is uncertain.