Sanshin
The sanshin (三線, lit., "three strings") is an Okinawan and Amami Islands musical instrument and precursor of the mainland Japanese shamisen (三味線).
[citation needed] It is the center of small informal family gatherings, weddings, birthdays, other celebrations, community parties, festivals.
In an attempt to preserve his and his wife's sanshin, the husband wrapped them up, put them into a wooden box, and buried them deep in the Okinawan forest.
Naturally-skinned instruments - while considered unparalleled in sound quality, producing a warm, deep yet pronounced tone - are infamous for cracking and tearing, especially when the sanshin is taken out of its natural habitat, the humid tropicality of the Ryukyu Islands.
Artificially skinned sanshin are popular due to their generally low cost and their invulnerability to different temperatures and atmospheres.
The highest-quality synthetic-skin sanshin, which are available for as low as US$300, are the go-to choice for professional Okinawan Folk Musicians who travel and play overseas.
Like with its un-reinforced predecessor, it is still good practice to maintain regular oiling of the reinforced kyoka-bari skin to prevent over-drying and cracking.
There are also tailor-made products available to avoid skin-breakage, such as naturally oily leather circular pads that are placed on either side of the sanshin body during case storage.
The wooden parts of the sanshin - the neck (sao), head/body (dou), and head (ten - can be made with any of a large variety of hardwoods.
The other, more common hardwoods (used mainly for convenience, availability, and cost-effectiveness) include Oak, Apitong, and Rosewoods (any number of species).
Acting much like the tuning pegs of the violin, cello, and other traditional western wood string instruments- Karakui will require the use of Rosin (made of Pine resin, oils, ash, etc.
Karakui also act as another face of expression for the Sanshin- they can be carved in a variety of different styles and designs, and finished in a range of colors, textures, and some can even be 'tipped' with Jade, Coral, or other stones, shells, and natural decorations.
A textile, simply called a Ten cover, is a small, elastic-reinforced slip-cover that is generally padded and quilted, to provide a bit of protection against surface damage.
Most often, Doumaki are made from modern fibers and methods, and display the Royal Crest of the Ryukyu Kingdom (Hidari Gomon), in rich black and gold.
These days, a wide variety of both modern-made and traditional hand-woven Doumaki can be found both in Japan and by world citizens via the internet.
These high-end Doumaki may also incorporate leather, python skin, Bingata fabric (Okinawan 'stencil & paste' dyeing), Minsaa weavings (traditional Ryukyu '4 & 5' Square patterns_ and other natural/modern materials.
This 'DIY' kit generally includes pre-fabricated parts- the Sao/Neck, the Dou/drum head base, and the Karakui/tuning pegs- all of which come 'unfinished', awaiting the new owner's creative hands.
It is also the subject of the 'DIY-Kit' approach to Sanshin Traditionally, players wear a plectrum (bachi), made of a material such as the water buffalo horn, on the index finger.
