Kunkunshi (工工四 (Okinawan)pronounced[kuŋkunɕiː]) is the traditional notation system by which music is recorded in theRyukyu Islands. The termkunkunshi 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.[1]
Kunkunshi is believed to have been first developed byMongaku Terukina or by his studentChoki Yakabi [ja] in the early to mid-1700s. However, it was not until the end of the 19th century that the form became standardized for writingsanshin music.[2] Yakabi is attributed to having written the earliest known, surviving collection of kunkunshi. TheYakabi Kunkunshi consists of 117 compositions written in thekaki nagashi style. In this form, the sanshin finger positions are written in a flowing style with no indication of rhythm.[3]
| Open String | Index Finger | Middle Finger | Little Finger | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male String （男弦） | 合 (ai) | 乙 (otsu) | 老 (rō) | 下老 (shitarō) | ||
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | |||
| Middle String （中弦） | 四 (shi) | 上 (jō) | 中 (chū) | 尺 (shaku) | 尺♯ (shaku sharp) | 下尺 (shita shaku) |
| Fa | So | La | Ti♭ | Ti | Do | |
| Female String （女弦） | 工 (kō) | 五 (go) | 六 (roku) | 七 (shichi) | 八 (hachi) | 九 (kyū) |
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | So | La | |
| 才 (sai) | 汎 (bon) | 勺 (shaku) |
|---|---|---|
| So | La | Ti |
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