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大太鼓 (だだいこ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
dadaiko drum ; large drum for bugaku and gagaku
A large Japanese drum used primarily in outdoor bugaku (court dance) and gagaku (court music) performances. The term is specific to traditional performing arts contexts.
See also: 舞楽 · 雅楽
Written forms 大太鼓だだいこ
Standard kanji spelling for the large drum used in gagaku and bugaku.
鼉太鼓だだいこ
Rare variant using the character 鼉 (alligator), likely historical or decorative.
Kanji 太 plump, thick, big around 飾しょく
が
美うつく
しい
。
The dadaiko drum used in gagaku has beautiful decorations.
鼉 large reptile, water lizard Similar words 太たい 鼓こ 太鼓 is a general term for Japanese drums, while 大太鼓 specifically refers to the large drum used in gagaku and bugaku.
舞ぶ 楽がく 舞楽 is the court dance tradition in which the dadaiko drum is prominently used.
雅が 楽がく 雅楽 is the court music tradition that features the dadaiko drum.
Etymology Compound of 大 (large) and 太鼓 (drum). The rare variant 鼉太鼓 uses 鼉 (alligator), possibly referring to the drum's skin or a historical name.
