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Lake Biwa, located within [[Shiga prefecture]], is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, covering some 670 square kilometers in area.<ref>Lee Jeong Mi, "Cultural Expressions of Tokugawa Japan and Choson Korea: An Analysis of the Korean Embassies in the Eighteenth Century," PhD dissertation, University of Toronto (2008),158.</ref> Named after the supposed resemblance of its shape to that of a ''[[biwa]]'' (a lute-like musical instrument), the lake is the subject of numerous notable literary and artistic references throughout Japanese history.
Lake Biwa, located within [[Shiga prefecture]], is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, covering some 670 square kilometers in area.<ref>Lee Jeong Mi, "Cultural Expressions of Tokugawa Japan and Choson Korea: An Analysis of the Korean Embassies in the Eighteenth Century," PhD dissertation, University of Toronto (2008),158.</ref> Named after the supposed resemblance of its shape to that of a ''[[biwa]]'' (a lute-like musical instrument), the lake is the subject of numerous notable literary and artistic references throughout Japanese history.
Lake Biwa was often compared to [[Lake Dongting]] in China, in poetry and literature, and serves as the center of the thematic set of "Eight Views of [[Omi province|Ômi]]."<ref>An adaptation or borrowing of the classical Chinese theme, "[[Eight Views of Xiao and Xiang]]."</ref>
Lake Biwa was often compared to [[Lake Dongting]] in China, in poetry and literature, and serves as the center of the thematic set of "Eight Views of [[Omi province|Ômi]]" (an adaptation or borrowing of the classical Chinese theme, "[[Eight Views of Xiao and Xiang]]").
The lake has several islands within it. [[Chikubushima]] is a sacred island, dedicated to the deity [[Benten]]; many Benten shrines throughout Japan emulate this by placing the shrine atop a manmade island within a lake or pond. Another island in the lake, Oki Island, was at times used to home courtiers and others exiled from Kyoto. [[Imamairi no Tsubone]], wet-nurse to the first child of [[Hino Tomiko]], was one such exile.
A significant waterworks project, known as the [[Lake Biwa Waterways Project]], was undertaken in [[1890]] to bring water from the lake to the city of [[Kyoto]], some 11 km away. The project included construction of the country's first hydroelectric dam.<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', UC Press (1998), 87.</ref> Water from the lake had also been previously used to fill the moats of nearby [[Hikone castle]].
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==References==
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[[Category:Geographic Locations]]
