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SANSHIN (Three-stringed Instruments)

Okinawa Prefecture

SANSHIN (Three-stringed Instruments) is a musical instrument produced in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, and other locations. Its prototype was brought from China during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, and it developed as a court instrument. Later, it became widely popular among the common people, and today it is an indispensable instrument in various musical scenes, including Kumiodori (a dance-drama that has been registered as a World Heritage Site), Ryukyu opera, folk songs, and pop music.

  • Technology/techniques/raw materials

    Technology/techniques/raw materials

    Technology/techniques

    1. "Underneath the nail" refers to "removing the underside of the nail."

    2. "The field of the pole" refers to "the toui method." In this case, the center of the pole is carved into a bow shape so that it slopes downwards by two to five rin.

    3. The leather covering for the "Chiga" should be done using the "wedge-type covering" method.

     

    raw materials

    1. The wood used for the neck of the instrument shall be ebony, Distylium racemosum, Casuarina equisetifolia, or a material of equivalent quality.

    2. The wood used for "Chiga" shall be Podocarpus macrophyllus, Ajuga serrulata, Mulberry, or timber of equivalent quality.

    3. The skin of the "Chiga" should be snakeskin.

overview

Craft item name SANSHIN (Three-stringed Instruments)
Reading Sanshin
Classification of crafts Other crafts
Main Products
Main manufacturing area Naha City, Ginowan City, Urasoe City, Itoman City, Okinawa City, Tomigusuku City, Uruma City, Nanjo City, Yomitan Village (Nakagusuku District), Haebaru Town (Shimajiri District), Kumejima Town (Shimajiri District), Yaese Town (Shimajiri District), Taketomi Town (Yaeyama District)
Designated date November 7, 2018

contact address

■ Production area association

Okinawa Prefecture SANSHIN (Three-stringed Instruments) Manufacturing Cooperative
〒902-0067
360-7 Asato, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
Wako Mansion, 1st floor
TEL: 098-884-8288
FAX: 098-884-8288

https://okinawa34.jp/

Features

SANSHIN (Three-stringed Instruments) consists of a neck, body, and tuning pegs. The shape of the neck determines the type of sanshin, and the seven representative types are named after the master craftsmen from the Ryukyu Kingdom era who created them.
Making SANSHIN (Three-stringed Instruments) requires delicate craftsmanship, and it's not uncommon for the process, from selecting the raw wood to the final finish, to take several decades.

How to make it

There are seven types of SANSHIN (Three-stringed Instruments), and the dimensions of each part differ depending on the type. The neck type is decided, the wood is cut and sanded, and once the shape of the neck is formed, lacquer is applied to complete the neck. The body is formed by fixing snakeskin to a wooden frame with nails, and the skin is stretched over the front and back of the body in two stages. Once the neck and body are complete, the tuning pegs are attached to the neck, and the "butate" process, in which the neck is inserted into the body, is done carefully as it greatly affects the tone of SANSHIN (Three-stringed Instruments). The mouthpiece, body wrap, string holder, and strings are attached, and the bridge is set to complete the instrument.

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