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===Types of Sanshin===

===Types of Sanshin===

While the sanshin overall has a distinctive look and sound differentiating it from the Chinese ''[[sanxian]]'' or the Japanese shamisen, and while all sanshin are recognizable as Ryukyuan sanshin, there are a number of types with slight variations in size and shape.

While the sanshin overall has a distinctive look and sound differentiating it from the Chinese ''[[sanxian]]'' or the Japanese shamisen, and while all sanshin are recognizable as Ryukyuan sanshin, there are a number of types with slight variations in size and shape.

The ''yuuna'' 与那 or ''yuuna gushiku'' 与那城 style of sanshin is one of the most common. Said to originate from the [[Yonagusuku]] area, it has a thick and very straight neck. The ''chirutamai'' (the rectangular area within which the strings are wrapped around the tuning pegs) is longer than in many other styles, and the bulge at the back of the neck where it meets the body (the ''utuchikara'') is larger. The ''yuuna'' style is further subdivided into the ''Edo yuuna'', ''ko yuuna gushiku'', ''Sakugawa no yuuna'', and ''kamoguchi yuuna'' styles.

The ''yuuna'' 与那 or ''yuuna gushiku'' 与那城 style of sanshin is one of the most common. Said to originate from the [[Yonagusuku]] area, it has a thick and very straight neck. The ''chirutamai'' (the rectangular area within which the strings are wrapped around the tuning pegs) is longer than in many other styles, and the bulge at the back of the neck where it meets the body (the ''utuchikara'') is larger. The ''yuuna'' style is further subdivided into the ''Edo yuuna'', ''ko yuuna gushiku'', ''Sakugawa no yuuna'', and ''kamoguchi yuuna'' styles.

The ''Kuba sundun'' 久場春殿 type, after a design by [[Kuba Sundun]], has the thickest neck of any sanshin style, and a less curved head than most other styles. The neck grows gradually thicker along nearly its entire length, in contrast to many styles of sanshin which have a more noticeable point at which the neck begins to curve out. Kuba Sundun is also credited with inspiring the ''Kuba nu funi'' 久葉ぬ骨 style of sanshin, which has the narrowest neck of any sanshin type - a stark contrast to the ''Kuba sundun'' style. The slim neck is said to resemble a palm leaf, or ''kuba'', giving it a name coincidentally homophonous with that of its designer.

The ''Kuba sundun'' 久場春殿 type, after a design by [[Kuba Sundun]], has the thickest neck of any sanshin style, and a less curved head than most other styles. The neck grows gradually thicker along nearly its entire length, in contrast to many styles of sanshin which have a more noticeable point at which the neck begins to curve out. Kuba Sundun is also credited with inspiring the ''Kuba nu funi'' 久葉ぬ骨 style of sanshin, which has the narrowest neck of any sanshin type - a stark contrast to the ''Kuba sundun'' style. The slim neck is said to resemble a palm leaf, or ''kuba'', giving it a name coincidentally homophonous with that of its designer.

==History==

==History==