Historical Cultural Interactions Between East and Inner Asia: The Manchurian Tenggeri, Japanese Shamisen, Tuvan Doshpuluur, And Chinese Sanxian

Abstract

During the development of modern East Asian music, existing research on the Manchurian tenggeri has remained superficial, with few studies comparing it with other Asian three-stringed instruments. This paper primarily outlines the similarities and differences between the tenggeri and three other instruments, while also discussing their historical context and geopolitical relations. It first briefly describes the appearance and techniques of the four instruments. It then compares and discusses the relationships between the four instruments. Lastly, the paper outlines the geopolitical context and cultural flow in their historical backgrounds. The paper points out that in the historical development of East Asia and Inner Asia, there are population, linguistic, and cultural links or kinships, with musical instruments and culture being transmitted and inherited across different regimes. Finally, the paper concludes with the connections between the Manchurian tenggeri, the Japanese shamisen, and the Chinese sanxian, bringing the tenggeri back to the public view.