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楽箏 (がくそう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

楽がく箏そう

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Meanings

1

noun

ancient 13-string koto used in Gagaku

A specific type of koto with 13 strings, used in traditional Japanese court music (Gagaku).

雅が楽がくの演えん奏そうでは、楽がく箏そうが優ゆう雅がな音ね色いろを奏かなでる。
In Gagaku performances, the gakusō produces an elegant tone.

Written forms

楽がく箏そう
Standard kanji spelling for the Gagaku koto.
楽がく筝そう
Variant spelling using 筝, which is also used for the modern koto.

Kanji

楽music, comfort, ease
箏a koto
筝koto

Similar words

箏こと
箏 (koto) is the general term for the Japanese zither; 楽箏 specifically refers to the ancient 13-string version used in Gagaku.
雅が楽がく
雅楽 (Gagaku) is the traditional court music in which the 楽箏 is played.

Etymology

Compound of 楽 (gaku, 'music') and 箏 (sō, 'koto'), referring to the koto used in Gagaku. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with the instrument's role in court music.