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SCMP Culture Series

Chinese musical instruments

In this series, the Post looks at classical Chinese instruments and the traditional Chinese orchestra, how the eight different types of instrument are played as well as their history.

Updated: 14 Oct, 2024
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra member Wang Kaihan sits with her pipa. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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[1]

Explainer | The history of Chinese musical instruments, their role in a modern orchestra

From the earliest playable musical instruments to their roles in a modern four-section orchestra, Chinese traditional instruments and their 8,000-year history explained.

20 Aug, 2024
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra member Wang Kaihan sits with her pipa. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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[2]

‘Chinese bagpipes’ and sheng, musical instruments made from gourds

The ‘Chinese bagpipes’ and sheng are wind instruments with a bottle gourd for a base and bamboo pipes with finger holes used to play notes. The sheng inspired the invention of two Western musical instruments.

26 Aug, 2024
The Chinese sheng (above) is formed from a gourd and bamboo pipes. Photo: Shutterstock
[3]

Chinese chime bells and gongs have always struck a chord. Here’s why

Of the metal instruments used in a traditional Chinese music orchestra, chime bells and gongs are the most common. We examine their history.

08 Sep, 2024
Performers strike hand-held gongs during cerebrations for the Dragon Boat Festival in Linfen, China, in 2020. Of the metal instruments played in a Chinese orchestra, gongs and chime bells are the most common. Photo: Getty Images
[4]

The breathy charm of the Chinese clay flute, evolved from a hunting tool

The Chinese clay flute began life as a hunting tool to attract prey. It evolved to become an imperial court instrument and today is the signature clay instrument of modern Chinese orchestras.

16 Sep, 2024
A musician plays the xun, an ancient Chinese clay flute that began life as a hunting tool to attract prey. Today, it is the signature clay instrument of modern Chinese orchestras. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
[5]

The Chinese drum’s history, from hotline to the gods to orchestra essential

The Chinese drum, once thought to be an instrument that could speak to the gods, has been around for thousands of years in various forms. Two kinds are seen on the modern concert stage.

23 Sep, 2024
A drumming workshop on stage at Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Photo: Jonathan Wong
[6]

All about the erhu, bowed like a violin, and the Chinese zither

Their strings once made of twisted silk, Chinese stringed instruments the zither, or guqin, and erhu have a long history.

02 Oct, 2024
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra erhu player Song Hui with her instrument. Often compared to the violin, it is a relative newcomer compared to another stringed instrument, the Chinese zither, or guqin. Photo: Jonathan Wong
[7]

All about Chinese bamboo flutes, once made from the bones of a bird

The first flutes excavated in China were made from bone. Today, ones made from bamboo are widely used in Chinese music and opera.

08 Oct, 2024
A woman plays a dizi, a Chinese bamboo flute. The first flutes excavated in China were made from bone. Today, ones made from bamboo are widely used in Chinese music and opera. Photo: Getty Images
[8]

How ancient Chinese made rock music with jade and limestone chimes

Lithophones comprising stone chimes in a frame were played at the imperial court and in rituals, and feature in Chinese orchestras today.

14 Oct, 2024
A Chinese lithophone, or “bianqing”. Photo: Sina