Tansui-ryu

• Japanese: 湛水流 (Tansui-ryuu)

Tansui-ryû is considered the oldest still-active school of Okinawan uta-sanshin performance (i.e. song accompanied instrumentally on sanshin). It was founded by Tansui ueekata Kenchû in the 17th century; its repertoire consists of only seven pieces, but several of those are believed to be among the oldest extant pieces in the entire classical Okinawan repertoire.

The earliest extant notation for Tansui-ryû music, however, only dates back to the Meiji period. Still, it is believed that the more complex, ornamental style of sanshin playing in Tansui-ryû reflects an older form of uta-sanshin, and that the other schools' styles represent a simplification in the instrumental element over the centuries.

References

• Thompson, Robin. "The Music of Ryukyu." Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music. Surrey: Ashgate Publishing, 2008. p312.