Shamisen Collection (page 6)

Geisha with shamisen, Japan
Geisha with shamisen (a three-stringed musical instrument), Japan. Date: circa 1890s

A shamisen player, lighting her pipe
A Japanese lady in traditional costume lays her shamisen(a musical instrument with three strings, also written samsin), to one side, so she can light her kiseru or pipe, aided by another woman

Three girls playing shamisens, a Japanese musical instrument
An ascending scale: three Japanese girls of difference sizes wear traditional costume and play their shamisens(a musical instrument with three strings, also written samisen)

A lady playing a shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument
A Japanese lady in traditional costume plays a shamisen (also written samsin), a musical instrument with three strings

The shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument
The shamisen(also written samsin), a Japanese musical instrument with three strings

Geisha Shamisen Edo period 1615-1868 ca 1815
Artokoloro

Man Kneeling Posture Bending Forward Listening
Artokoloro

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Woman Playing Shamisen 1815 Japan Part album
Artokoloro

The traditional Japanese stringed instrument known as the shamisen. On Okinawa it is covered in the skin of the habu a local poisonous snake

JAPAN: SHAMISEN AND KOTO. A group of ornately-dressed Japanese women, some of them playing Shamisen and Koto, in the Yoshiwara district of Edo. Woodcut triptych by Utagawa Yoshitora, 1871

Japanese woman playing the koto engraving 1885
Le Monde Physique par Amedee Guillemin - Paris / Librairie Hachette et Cie 1881

Japanese musicians engraving 1885
Le Monde Physique par Amedee Guillemin - Paris / Librairie Hachette et Cie 1881

BridgemanArt Full Collection
OneVisionArt BridgemanArt Full Collection

The Street Ballad singer (engraving)
XJF1072757 The Street Ballad singer (engraving) by Anonymous; Private Collection; out of copyright

Itsutomi, Hosoda, Eishi, 1756-1829, artist, [1793, printed later], 1 print : woodcut, color. Print shows a woman, full-length, standing, turned slightly to the left, a shamisen at her feet

Oshun denbei horikawa no dan, Scene of Oshun Denbei Horikawa. Utagawa, Toyokuni, 1786-1865, artist, [between 1830 and 1835], 1 print : woodcut, color; 38.4 x 26.6 cm

Chikurin no kabe no mae no shichikenjin, Seven people before a bamboo fence. Kubo, Shunman, 1757-1820, artist, [180-], 1 print : woodcut, color; 20.2 x 27.3 cm

[Yatsushi chikurin no shichikenjin sono yon?], Parody of the seven sages of the bamboo grove. Kubo, Shunman, 1757-1820, artist, [between 1804 and 1810], 1 print : woodcut, color; 21.2 x 28.1 cm

Hibachi o kakomu gonin no otoko, Five men relaxing around a hibachi. Katsukawa, ShunshAc, 1726-1793, artist, [1772 or 1773], 1 print : woodcut, color; 12.1 x 35.5 cm

JAPAN: GEISHAS, c1803. Japanese geishas playing a shamisen and a kokyu. Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Shuho Saito, c1803

Japanese theatrical performer holding a Shamisen. Date: circa 1920s

Two European girls dressed as Geishas playing music (on a Shamisen-style instrument) during the tea ceremony. Date: circa 1910s

Japanese Geisha standing with her Traditional Shamisen Date: circa 1904

Japan - Three Geisha Girls playing traditional instruments - two on drums and one playing the Shamisen. Date: circa 1904

Japan - Japanese Dancing girl and Shamisen player. Date: circa 1904

Japanese woman holding a shamisen
Japanese woman in traditional costume holding a shamisen. Date: circa 1904

O-Hana-San provides music for her friend O-koto-san
Japanese woman O-Hana-San provides music for her friend O-koto-san with a Shamisen Date: circa 1910

Japan - Women dancing and playing musical instruments, including a Shamisen (right). Date: circa 1906

Japanese Geisha Ensemble with Musical Instruments (including bells and Shamisen), performing on a staging on the seafront. The tea ceremony appears to be occurring at the same time. Date: 1902

Scene of Oshun Denbei Horikawa: Horikawa (1079-1107) Emperor of Japan 1087-1107 shown playing a shamisen, surrounded by large sheets of text

Geisha with a shamisen
Japanese geisha in kimono with a shamisen Date: circa 1906

Japanese geishas serving and entertaining men in the Shikian restaurant along the Sumida River in the Nakazu district
JAPAN: RESTAURANT, c1786. Japanese geishas serving and entertaining men in the Shikian restaurant along the Sumida River in the Nakazu district, Edo (now Tokyo), Japan

CHINESE PICNIC, 1883. Celestial musicians entertain at a picnic, held by Chinese immigrants from New York, at Iona Island (near Bear Mountain in the Hudson River), New York

TATTOO PARLOR, 1882. A European being tattooed at a Nagasaki, Japan, parlor. Wood engraving, English, 1882

JAPAN: GEISHA DANCER, 1874. A Japanese geisha girl practising her dance. Wood engraving, English, 1874

Japanese woman, full length, seated, facing right, playing a koto; a shamisen leans against a wall in the background. Date ca. 1877

Exterior view of fish market with several people, shoppers and merchant(?), holding fish, also a porter with large bundle on his back, and a woman playing a shamisen. Date ca. 1877

A shamisen. Date 1878 Nov

A koto or Japanese zither. Date 1878 Nov

The Song Of The Dragon
Japanese lady holding a shamisen sat by a dragon mural. Please note: Credit must appear as (c) Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/Mary Evans Picture Library

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The shamisen, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, has found its way into the hearts and culture of Japan. Geishas gracefully strumming the strings of the shamisen create an enchanting melody that captivates all who listen. In this captivating image, a Japanese geisha delicately plays the shamisen, transporting us back to the early 1900s when this beautiful art form thrived. Stepping into a bustling musical instrument shop in Japan, one can witness rows of meticulously crafted shamisens waiting to be played by skilled musicians. The triptych woodblock print depicting cherry blossom entertainment showcases the harmonious blend between nature's beauty and melodic tunes produced by these instruments. Intriguing glimpses into Japanese history reveal fascinating scenes from centuries ago. A traditional woodblock print portrays a female musician playing her shamisen while three samurai intently listen. As they enjoy her performance, a kamuro gracefully brings food on a tray, adding an element of elegance to this moment frozen in time. Traveling further back in time to late 17th century Yoshiwara reveals another facet of life where street scenes come alive with music and merriment. Hishikawa Moronobu's depiction captures the essence of daily life as courtesans play their beloved shamisens amidst vibrant surroundings. The legacy of the shamisen lives on through generations as it continues to inspire artists and musicians alike. Its timeless charm resonates not only within Japan but also across borders, leaving an indelible mark on cultures worldwide.