A Three-string Instrument

In China, there is a three-string music instrument called sanxian. It is a Chinese lute with only three strings. It has a long fingerboard and the body is usually made from snakeskin stretched over a rounded rectangular resonator. It is made in different sizes for different purposes. The instrument has northern and southern version. The norther sanxian are larger in lengths compared to southern version.

The sanxian has a dry and percussive tone and loud volume. It can be used as a solo performing instrument, but it is usually used as an accompanying instrument in ensembles and orchestras of traditional Chinese instruments.

In Japan there is a music instrument called shamisen which is derived from the Chinese sanxian. They are basically same and the only difference is some shamisen use cat or dog skin cover the rectangular resonator.

I think this music instrument is quite amazing of only three strings. It once was a popular Chinese folk instrument. But since some Chinese orchestras exclude sanxian, its rich playing traditon has been lost gradually. But recently in addition to traditional and classical Chinese music, some popular and rock musicians use sanxian in their music. I think this is a good phenomenon and hope that the tradition of this unique music instrument not lost.

The picture I attached is a northern large sanxian.