Ke na – Karen Lute (Three Strings) 2

The Karen have stamped their unique sonic signature on an array of stringed instruments found in lutes, harps, and fiddle. One of these is the ke na, a distinctive fretted lute of hardwood played by Pwo and S’gaw Karen men. A small instrument that can be cradled in a musician’s lap, the ke na features a fluid, tear-shaped resonator covered with animal skin or iron; a round mandolin-like back; and a short neck that supports three strings that stretch from its tailpiece to its fitted tuning pegs.

What makes the ka na so striking is its headstock, the lute’s signature hallmark, where a pair of ornately carved peacocks perch atop its pegbox. The peacock, once plentiful in the jungles of eastern Myanmar, home to many Karen groups, is a common symbol found on Karen musical instruments.

Also of great consequence is the ke na’s decorative pegbox, etched either with a grid of crosshatching or a ‘magic square.’ Rarely found now, the lute’s magic square is made of nine small squares, each inscribed with a Burmese letter that represents one of the nine major Karen celebrations of the year.

In other words, the magic square is a seasonal calendar. Each of the nine letters/seasonal events triggers a distinct musical style for the musician to play, as follows: 1. Rice Harvest. 2. Marriage, 3. New Year, 4. Courting, 5. Honoring Rain Spirits after Harvest, 6. String-Tying Rites (2 times a year: March and August), 7. Birth of a Baby, 8. New House, and 9. Respect for Grandparents/Ancestors.

Of interest, Karen men are known to tattoo their bodies from head to toe, each design representing a specific purpose to protect or bring prosperity to the wearer.  One common tattoo found on men’s forearms is the magic square.

Note: The form of this ke na displays simple, stylized peacocks and a magic square with diamond-shaped crosshatching rather than the characters that indicate annual events.

Whether playing alone or in an ensemble of three ka na, Pwo and S’gaw Karen men pluck lively melodies on their lutes that match their voices note for note. These strains can be heard when observing the nine celebrations mentioned above, or when wooing a mate.

Ethnic Group: S’gaw Karen

Local Name: Ke na

Type: Plucked Lute (three strings)

Class: Plucked Chordophone

Tuning: Pentatonic Scale, tuned in fourths or fifths

Age: Mid-20th c.

Materials: Hard wood, iron, metal

Dimensions: 54.5 X 9.5 X 6 cm / 21.5″ x 4.75″ x 2.33″

Location: Myanmar / Thailand

Owner / Instrument Maker:

Catalog Number: 6434