Kunkunshi ( ) is the traditional notation system by which music is recorded in the

Ryukyu Islands The , also known as the or the , are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan: the Ōsumi, Tokara, Amami, Okinawa, and Sakishima Islands (further divided into the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands), with Yonaguni ...

. The term ''kunkunshi'' originally referred to the first three notes of a widely known Chinese melody, although today it is used almost exclusively in reference to the sheet music. Kunkunshi is believed to have been first developed by Mongaku Terukina or by his student in the early to mid-1700s. However, it was not until the end of the 19th century that the form became standardized for writing

sanshin The is an Okinawan and Amami Islands musical instrument and precursor of the mainland Japanese (). Often likened to a banjo, it consists of a snakeskin-covered body, neck and three strings. Origins Its close resemblance in both appearance a ...

music. Yakabi is attributed to having written the earliest known, surviving collection of kunkunshi. The ''Yakabi Kunkunshi'' consists of 117 compositions written in the ''kaki nagashi'' style. In this form, the sanshin finger positions are written in a flowing style with no indication of rhythm.

Okinawan Sanshin

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References

* * * Musical notation Okinawan music {{Japan-music-stub