noun
biwa (4 or 5-stringed Oriental lute)
Archaic name for the biwa. In modern Japanese, the instrument is almost always called 琵琶 (びわ). This longer form may appear in historical or literary contexts.
See also: 琵琶
古い文献には「琵琶の琴」という表記が見られる。
The notation '琵琶の琴' can be found in old documents.