The small sanxian of the Yi nationality is popular in the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yuxi, Simao, Baoshan and other areas in Yunnan Province.

Legend has it that a long time ago, in the Wumeng Mountains, there was a young man named Are, who shepherded cattle and sheep for the headman every day, and spent his days suffering. One day, Ah Re rescued a white-hoofed foal that fell off a hanging rock.

The guy rides it every day to herd sheep, and he has also practiced good riding skills. One day Ah Re was tending sheep, and suddenly the horse ran to the racecourse of the Tusi's family, where a horse race was being held to select a son-in-law. Just after the gunfire started, the riders rushed forward like arrows from the string, and the black horse rushed through the crowd. Run to the front of the team.

The chieftain looked at the hero who fell from the sky, and was ecstatic. When he saw that he was his slave, Are was severely beaten and his beloved pony was taken away by the chieftain.

Not long after that, the chieftain invited some mountain officials to his house, and wanted to ride a black horse to show his prestige, but the pony kicked with both feet, fell off the chief, broke the reins and ran away. The chief ordered his soldiers to shoot the black horse, the pony Although he was hit by arrows, he still ran home. Ah Re drew the arrow and gave the horse medicine. The pony eventually died of his injuries.

The young man misses his beloved BMW day and night, and one night, Utah Mato dreamed to Are: "Master, don't be sad, use my leather as a piano case, use my leg bones as piano rods, and twist my tail into strings, let us Let’s curse the toast to death together, and let’s have fun together.” After waking up, the young man made a delicate violin out of a cherry tree, covered with a horse skin and made a string with a pony tail, and made a ding-dong sound with his hands. There is joy. Since then, Sanxian has been widely circulated among the Yi people.