Changes

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 ''Kuba sundun'' type, after a design by [[Kuba Sundun]]<!--久場春殿-->, has a particularly fat neck (''sao''), and a less curved head (''tin'') 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.

 

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==