It seems the Japanese samisen was from the Chinese instrument called a "sanxian". San = three. xian = strings.
Both names sound a bit like "Sam Yeen". However neither one is like a Chinese guitar or Ruan which has a solid wooden body and not a skin head. It has four strings. My man was a keen scholar. Clever and witty. I believe the name was carefully thought out as a pun of some sort.
We need a Chinese linguist.
Cheers, Joy