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((Short description|Chinese three-stringed lute))
((italic title))
((More citations needed|date=November 2013))
((Infobox Chinese
|title='''Sanxian'''
|pic       = Sanxian.gif
|piccap    = The Chinese ((transliteration|zh|sanxian))
|picsize   = 350px
|t=[[wiktionary:三|三]][[wiktionary:弦|弦]]
|s=[[wiktionary:三|三]][[wiktionary:弦|弦]]
|p=sānxián|w=san<sup>1</sup>-hsien<sup>2</sup>
|y=sāamyìhn|j=saam1 jin4))
The ((transliteration|zh|'''sanxian''')) (((zh|c=三弦)), literally "three strings") is a three-stringed [[List of traditional Chinese musical instruments|traditional Chinese]] [[lute]]. It has a long [[fret]]less [[fingerboard]], and the body is traditionally made from snake skin stretched over a rounded rectangular [[resonator]]. It is made in several sizes for different purposes and in the early 20th century a four-stringed version, the ''jiaxian sanxian'' (加弦三弦), was developed. The northern ((transliteration|zh|sanxian)) is generally larger, at about ((convert|122|cm|abbr=on)) in length, while southern versions of the instrument are usually about ((convert|95|cm|abbr=on)) in length.

==History==
[[File:Sanxian and pipa.jpg|thumb|right|Possible sanxian (left) and pipa, from a 762-827 A.D. painting in the [[Mogao caves]] near [[Dunhuang]]―Grotto 46 Left interior wall, second panel. Also called cave 112.]]
It has been suggested that ''sanxian'', a form of [[spike lute]], may have its origin in the [[Middle East]], and older forms of spike lute were also found in ancient Egypt.<ref name="myers"/> Similar instruments may have been present in China as early as the [[Qin dynasty]] as ''qin pipa'' (''[[pipa]]'' was used as a generic term in ancient China for many other forms of plucked [[chordophone]]s) or ''xiantao'' (弦鼗),<ref name="myers"/><ref>((cite web |url=http://www.easonmusicschool.com/chinese-orchestra-instruments/chinese-plucked-string-instruments/sanxian/ |title=Sanxian |work=EasonMusic ))</ref> which the [[Qinqin]] and [[Ruan (instrument)|Ruan]] also come from. Some thought that the instrument may have been re-introduced into China together with other instruments such as ''[[huqin]]'' by the Mongols during the [[Yuan dynasty]] (1271–1368),<ref name="myers">((cite book |first=John |last=Myers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=avjpd2zHZSgC&pg=PA7 |title=The way of the pipa: structure and imagery in Chinese lute music |publisher=Kent State University Press |year=1992 |isbn=9780873384551 |pages=5–7))</ref><ref name="sanxian">((cite book |author =楊慎 ([[Yang Shen]]) |title= 《昇庵外集》 ([[Outer Collection of Sheng'an]]) |quote= 「今次三弦，始於元時」(The Sanxian originated in the [[Yuan Dynasty]]))</ref> however, an image of a sanxian-like instrument was found in a stone sculpture dating from the [[Southern Song]] period (1217–79).  The first record of the name "sanxian" may be found in a [[Ming dynasty]] text.<ref>((cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/sanxian |title=Sanxian |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica ))</ref><ref name="sanxian"/>

The instrument was transmitted to other East Asian countries, for example to the [[Ryukyus]] as ''[[sanshin]]'' and mainland Japan as ''[[shamisen]]''.<ref name="leiter"/>

==Description==
The sanxian has a dry, somewhat percussive tone and loud volume similar to the [[banjo]]. The larger sizes have a [[range (music)|range]] of three [[octave]]s. It is primarily used as an accompanying instrument, as well as in ensembles and [[Chinese orchestra|orchestras]] of traditional Chinese instruments, though solo pieces and concertos also exist. The sanxian is used in ''[[Nanguan music|nanguan]]'' and ''[[Jiangnan sizhu]]'' ensembles, as well as many other folk and classical ensembles—such as [[Suzhou pingtan]], and [[beijing opera|Beijing]] and [[Kunqu opera|Kunqu]] operas.<ref name="Wang5">((cite book|last=王玉 Wang|first= Yu|title=從零起步學三弦//Cong Ling Qi Bu Xue San Xian|year=2016|publisher=上海音樂學院出版社|isbn=978-7-5566-0143-1|page=5))</ref> Iterations of the sanxian are found among China's ethnic minorities as well, such as the [[Manchu]], the [[Mongols in China|Mongols]], the [[Bai people|Bai]], the [[Yi people|Yi]], the [[Lahu people|Lahu]], the [[Miao people|Miao]], the [[Dai people|Dai]], and the [[Jingpo people|Jingpo]].<ref name="Wang5"/>
The instrument's rounded rectangular resonator has a snakeskin front and back, and the curved-back pegbox at the end of the neck has lateral, or side, tuning pegs that adjust three silk, nylon or steel strings.
[[File:SanXian.JPG|thumb|left|170px|A ''sanxian'']]
Traditionally, the instrument is plucked with one's fingernails—as is the case in [[Southern China|the south of China]]—or with two hard and thin [[plectrum]]s made from animal horn that are tied to the thumb and index finger; however, today players also use plastic [[pipa]] plectrums on all five fingers of the right hand.((sfn|王玉 Wang|2016|p=8)) The usage of fingernails, or pipa plectrums, allows pipa techniques—such as the tremolo—to be applied to the sanxian, as well as the performance of works traditionally written for the pipa. Other techniques for ''sanxian'' include the use of [[harmonics]] and hitting the skin of the instrument with the plectra or fingernail (comparable to the technique used to play the northern Japanese ''[[tsugaru-jamisen]]''). In contemporary times, sanxian players popularly use steel strings, which are composed of drawn steel—with bass and tenor strings having an additional outer coat of nylon or copper winding; alternatively, players may opt to use fishing line, pure nylon strings, or silk for a mellower tone, such as in the tradition of [[Suzhou Pingtan]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/rSTgAdi8kPs Ghostarchive]((cbignore)) and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210624214048/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSTgAdi8kPs&t=111s Wayback Machine]((cbignore)): ((cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSTgAdi8kPs&t=111s| title = 【三弦教学】如何才能让你的三弦弹的更好，评弹小刘告诉你老先生的三大诀窍 | website=[[YouTube]]))((cbignore))</ref>

A closely related [[musical instrument]] is the [[Japan]]ese ''[[shamisen]]'', which originated from the Chinese ''sanxian''.<ref name="leiter">((cite book|last=Leiter|first=Samuel L.|title=Encyclopedia of Asian Theatre: A-N|year=2007|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33530-3|page=445|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JttNAAAAYAAJ))</ref><ref name="koda">((cite book|title=Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan , Volume 7|year=1983|isbn=978-0-87011-627-8|page=77|url=https://books.google.com/books?ei=Ud06Tp_8LY3oOamT3dUD))</ref><ref>((cite book|last=Lande|first=Liv|title=Innovating musical tradition in Japan: Negotiating transmission, identity, and creativity in the Sawai Koto School|year=2007|page=73|isbn=978-0-549-50670-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TukqhSzefPEC))</ref> Even more closely related is the [[Okinawa]]n ''[[sanshin]]'', which is also covered in snakeskin. Additionally, the ''sanshin'' and ''sanxian'' share a structurally similar body part consisting of a round-edged square of wood. In the Japanese ''shamisen'', the body (''sao'') is made of four pieces of wood instead of one. The Mongolian ''[[shanz]]'' and the Vietnamese ''[[đàn tam]]'' are also similar to the ''sanxian''.((citation needed|date=October 2020))

In addition to its use in traditional and classical Chinese music, some popular and rock musicians have used the sanxian, most notably the singer [[He Yong (rock musician)|He Yong]] (何勇) and his father He Yusheng (何玉声).<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.56.com/404.html?videoDeleted|title=您访问的页面不存在 - 56.com|website=56.com|access-date=20 April 2021))</ref> Sometimes, sanxian can bowed with [[violin]] [[Bow (music)|bow]].

==Tuning==
*Small sanxian: A-d-a or d-a-d1, Length: ((convert|95|cm|abbr=on))
*Large sanxian: G-d-g, Length: ((convert|122|cm|abbr=on))

==Notable ''Sanxian'' players==
[[File:Xu Fengxia E5100623.jpg|thumb|right|190px|Xu Fengxia playing ''sanxian'']]
*Li Yi
*Xu Fengxia
*Zhao Taisheng<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDdmNeICOWA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/NDdmNeICOWA |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=李克勤 2011演唱會《 三弦獨奏》、《回首》、《希望》|access-date=20 April 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]))((cbignore))</ref>
*Huang Guifang<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.sco.com.sg/en/musicians/19-sanxian/106-huang-gui-fang.html|title=Huang Guifang|website=Sco.com.sg|access-date=20 April 2021))</ref>
*Ni Ni

==Related instruments==
*''Xianzi'' (弦子) diminutive, either a dialect word and just the same as a normal sanxian, or a southern version with a shorter neck.<ref>Chinese Music - Volumes 21-24 - Page 65 1998 "The full score from the xiansuo quartet "The Moon on High" showcases a fiddle, a pipa, a xianzi (the sanxian), and the zheng, in their strictly instrumental roles (see beginning of first movement below)."</ref> But in Tibet the Chinese word "xianzi" refers to a 2-string version of the Chinese ''sanxian''.<ref>Liu Jianqiang ''Tibetan Environmentalists in China: The King of Dzi'' -0739199749 Page 188 2015 "The xianzi instruments looked like the Chinese two-stringed erhu, but even simpler. The sounds were coarse, simple and dry, unlike the fine melody produced by erhu, but folksier and more country-like."</ref>
*''Erxianzi'' (二弦子) sanxian with two strings.<ref>Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society 2002 "the "er" of "erxianzi" is the same as that of "erhu"; the "xian" means "string[ed]"; the "zi is a diminutive suffix ...</ref>

==See also==
*[[Sanshin]]
*[[Shamisen]]
*[[Traditional Chinese musical instruments]]

==References==
((Reflist))

==External links==
*[http://www.yuemi.net/pages1/buolan(mz.boxian2).htm Sanxian photos]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070731133640/http://www.geidai.ac.jp/~odaka/gcat/english/html-text/299.html Geidai Sanxian Photo 2]

===Video===
*[http://resources.emb.gov.hk/musiceb/english/Instrument/chinese/sanxian/video/video_2.htm Sanxian video] from The Musical Instruments E-book
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK_7HxUQSxM Sanxian video] Japan-based Sanxian performer.

===Listening===
*[http://music.yahoo.com.cn/search.html?pid=ysearch&p=%C8%FD%CF%D2&button=%CB%D1%B8%E8%C7%FA&button=%CB%D1%B8%E8%B4%CA&mimetype=all&source=ysearch_music_result_topsearch Sanxian audio] (click headphones to listen to individual tracks)

((Traditional Chinese musical instruments))
((Lute))
((Authority control))

[[Category:Chinese musical instruments]]
[[Category:Drumhead lutes]]
[[Category:Spike lutes]]

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