The comparison of similar musical instruments provides insight towards the processes of higher culture and history. In this paper, the Chinese pipa, Japanese biwa, and Korean bipa are discussed to be similarly plucked lutes which share a common origin, but came to play different functions and roles in the respective three societies discussed. Concentrating on the cultural and religious prestige of the Chinese pipa, the Buddhist and narrative culture of the Japanese biwa hoshi, and the cross-cultural but relatively minor role of the Korean bipa, this paper investigates how each instrument served as a tool of telling stories through symbolism as well as performance. Although the biwa and the bipa were created by the same channels of transmission, they took different paths that cannot be viewed as similar to the perpetual popularity of the pipa. The historical variations are manifested in the contemporary cultural status of the instruments and their cultural heritage.

Audrey Wu. Divergent Historical and Storytelling Functions of the Chinese Pipa, Japanese Biwa, and Korean Bipa. Frontiers in Art Research (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 1: 13-17. https://doi.org/10.25236/FAR.2026.080103.

[1] Information on: https://vocabs.acdh.oeaw.ac.at/hsinstruments_thesaurus/de/page/321313

[2] Myers, J. E. (1992). The way of the Pipa: Structure and imagery of chinese lute music. Kent State University Press. 

[3] Information on: https://www.philmultic.com/pipa.html

[4] Information on: https://www.wfmt.com/2019/01/31/why-the-chinese-pipa-is-one-of-the-coolest-instruments-youve-never-heard/

[5] de Ferranti, H. (2003). Transmission and Textuality in the Narrative Traditions of Blind BIWA Players. Yearbook for Traditional Music, 35, 131-152. https://doi.org/10.2307/4149324 

[6] Information on: https://thekootneeti.in/2021/10/05/ritsuryo-system-in-ancient-japan/

[7] Ruch, B. (1990). Akashi No Kakuichi. The Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese, 24(1), 35-47. 

[8] Sato, H. (2021). Legends of the Samurai : Sato, Hiroaki, 1942. New York : Overlook Duckworth https://archive.org/details/legendsofsamurai0000sato_s9m2

[9] Information on: https://www.deeperjapan.com/meet-the-masters/nobuko-biwa-master

[10] Information on: https://www.diapasonmag.fr/mise-en-avant/diaporama-accueil/la-petite-histoire-du-biwa-25392.html#item=1

[11] Information on: https://gamerant.com/demon-slayer-the-powers-of-new-upper-rank-demon-nakime-explained/

[12] Song, B.-s. (1973). The Korean Pip'a and its notation. Ethnomusicology, 17(3), 460-493. https://doi.org/10.2307/849961 

[13] Lee, B. W. (1981). Korean court music and dance. The World of Music, 23(1), 35-51. 

[14] Information on: https://rki.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?lang=e&board_seq=369100

[15] Information on: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3255480