Lute, samisen (detail)

This lute or samisen is played with a plectrum. The hollow frame of wood has cat skin stretched across the back and front of the sound box. The skin is reinforced under the strings so that it is not broken by the blows from the plectrum.

The wood is decorated with lacquer and a design of shells. The shells symbolise faithfulness, both of the player and the music. These are moulded in paste. After they have been applied, gold and lacquer is added in a technique known as takamaki-e.

Samisen were used as an accompaniment to a story teller in puppet theatre, bunraku. The music intensifies the drama of the story. Geisha, have played the samisen at banquets, to accompany singing and dancing.

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