The shape of the Koto resembles a Chinese dragon stretched out along the ground, different parts of the instrument are derived from Chinese characters. Ryuko, or dragon's back, is the main body of the Koto. Ryubi, or dragon's tail, are located at the end section where strings are run through holes in the instrument's body and tied off, the leftover string is coiled into two bunches, one of six strings and one of seven strings, and kept in case a string breaks later. Ji, or bridges, supports are slid up and down the instrument to adjust the sound of each string. Notched tops hold the strings, they also help to transmit the sound from the strings to the body of the Koto. Tsume, ivory or plastic claws or picks, are placed on the right hand index finger, middle fingers and thumb by leather bands, each plug creates the harp-like tone. The left hand presses down on the strings to bend notes and create other effects, such as vibrato. Two sounding holes are cut out of the backboard in order to transmit these amazing chords.
The Koto has been given names to the parts of the instrument in accordance to mythological idea. The upper surface is the dragon's back, the under surface is his belly, the upper part of the side is the seashore, o-iso, the lower, ko-iso, the lesser shore. The oval of tortoise-shell at the right end of the upper surface is the sea, umi, the long bridge at the right end, the dragon's horn, ryokaku, the long bridge at the left end, the horn of cloud, or the angel's seat, temmyo. The angular projection at the right end is the dragon's forked tongue, ryo no shita, the other end, kashiwaba, his tail. The cavity at the right end of the under surface is the 'hidden moon', ingetsu, and the left end, marigata, the 'bowl-shaped place'.' The top of Koto is called (ko) shell, bottom (hara), belly, sides (iso) beach on which the dragon supposed to be lying, right end ryukaku (forehead), ryubi (nose), ryuken (elbow), ryuho (cheek), ryushin (lips), ryuzetsu (tongue), ryukaku (horns), left end ryubi (tail), 2 legs under head ryushu (hands), tail ryushi (legs)
The number of strings corresponds to 13 months of leap year, lunar calendar, Koto embodies 4 quadrants; heaven, earth, universe, and year; when played, the go-on, literally means 'five sounds' of pentatonic scale, they correspond to 5 cardinal points, elements, colors, and taste; Koto is instrument of human wisdom
The Kin (ancient Koto) originated in China from Emperor Fukki, BC 2000, 7ft 2inches, one foot longer than modern instrument, only five strings. During the Chew dynasty, 150 years later, a 6th string was added, and later a 7th. The Kin was made in two sizes, the smaller 3ft 6inches, a miniature Koto, Han-Koto used in the old Japanese days. In the Chin dynasty, another Koto appeared. The first Histsu-No-Koto has 50 strings, then reduced to 25 during the reign of Emperor Kotei; and reduced to 23 by Emperor Shun, measured 8 feet 1 inch only and 1 ft 9 inch board. The Chiku-No-Koto had 13 strings had the name of Chiku. The 13 string Kin was established in China during reign of Emperor Temmu, AD 673.
Chiku-No-Koto was first 13 stringed instrument mentioned and distinctive to other instruments by tonality and performance. Japanese music developed from a So-no-Koto and musical accomplishments of Yamada Ryu, he introduced it to the islands, 2000 years ago. The So-no-Koto developed away from the Hitsu-No-Koto and came to Japan with Chinese music and dance about the middle 7th century. The Japanese Koto developed with Yamada Ryu's precision. Two forms, Ikuta-Koto developed from Yatsuhashi's improvements, and Yamada-Koto where the instrument was brought to the highest pitch.
The So-No-Koto has low bridges and strings that are courser and more loosely twisted than now used, the tsume are thick paper, gilt or silvered, with a very small piece of bamboo let in, not more than 1/5 of an inch in length. In playing the paper stall first rubs the string, the bamboo striking it afterwards, but with very little force; the result is a soft woolly tone. Three points are altered, the bridges are raised, strings are finer quality, and tsume are of ivory standing clear of the leather stall, enabling the strings to be struck clean. The result is a clear bright tone, tending naturally to the production of lighter and brighter music.
The Ikuta-Koto is used now almost exclusively in the west of Japan, occasionally in the east by ladies. Its sides and extremities are covered with elaborate lacquer designs and inlay of tortoise-shell, ivory, and silver; strings are of different colors like those of western harps, enabling them to be more easily distinguished and remembered. The tsume are thick ivory or tortoise-shell set in lacquered leather stalls, and are cut square at the top.
The Koto of Japan was referred to as the Yamato-Koto better known as the Wa-gon. The sounding board of the Yamato-Koto is cut at one end into five long notches, the six strings being attached to the 6 "bow" projections by thick coarse cords. The bridges are made of untrimmed joints of maple twigs, the strings themselves being of coarse twisted silk.
The Ichi-Gen-Kin, the one stringed kin or Sumi-Koto, invented in Japan in the Engi era AD 901 at Suma near Kobe. Made of kiri wood, measured 3ft 7inches long, 4 ½ inches broad. The one string was 2ft 9 ½ inches length, fastened under the body in instrument, passes over a low movable bridge and wound around a peg 4 ½ inches high, stands at right angle to body, the string is tuned to an F sharp. Invented by an exiled nobleman to chase away his melancholy, original instrument being a string stretched across his hat. Ni-Gen-Kin, the two stringed kin, variety of Suma-Koto with two strings tuned to F sharp. Same dimensions of body but instead of being flat, its hallowed to a depth of two inches.
San-Gen-Kin, three stringed kin, outer strings C sharp, middle of F sharp. The Go-kin the five stringed kin, same length, broader. The Roku-kin, the six stringed kin. The Shichi-Gen-Kin, 7 stringed kin, length of 3ft 10 ¼ inches with string length of 3ft 7inches, breadth at 6 ½ inches, tapering to 4 ¼ inches, height at the upper end 3 ¼ inches, at the lower end 1 ¾ inches, thickness of 1 inch at the outside edges, 1 ¾ inch at the center convexity.
The Sage-Koto a small Koto of very ancient origin, invented 3468 BC, 9 strings, 2 feet long with 1ft 6 inches strings. The Tsuma-Koto with 13 strings on a sounding board in the form of a trapezoid; longest length of 2ft 2 inches, shortest length of 1 ft 7inches, resembles a piano. The Ya-Goto, 8 stringed Koto, developed out of Yamato-Koto, double strung feature; sounding board measured 3ft 7inches long and 5 inches high. Double strings pass over two long low bridges.
The Yan-Kin Chinese form of the zither, 15 double strings. The Yo-Kin "Chinese Koto" a miniature 13 stringed instrument from china, length 3ft 7inches, 5 inches height