Sanshin
{{article:6614}}{{article:6654}} Spike box lute (321.312-5-6). It derives from the Chinese sanxian, introduced ca. 1390 in the Okinawa archipelago, centre of the ancient Ryukyu kingdom. As its predecessor, it has a long narrow fretless handle which is followed by a spike that crosses the rectangular soundbox. This has a back and soundboard made of a snake skin — usually a python — that covers the wooden ribs. The number of simple courses (Japanese san = three, shin = string) gives…