List of Chinese musical instruments
Chinese musical instruments are traditionally grouped into eight categories known as bā yīn (八音).[1] The eight categories are silk, bamboo, wood, stone, metal, clay, gourd and skin; other instruments considered traditional exist that may not fit these groups. The grouping of instruments in material categories in China is one of the first musical groupings ever devised.
Playing contexts[edit]
Chinese instruments are either played solo, collectively in large orchestras (as in the former imperial court) or in smaller ensembles (in teahouses or public gatherings). Normally, there is no conductor in traditional Chinese music, nor any use of musical scores or tablature in performance. Music was generally learned aurally and memorized by the musician(s) beforehand, then played without aid. As of the 20th century, musical scores have become more common, as has the use of conductors in larger orchestral-type ensembles.
Woman playing a dizi.
Woman playing a jinghu.
Woman playing a luo.
Woman playing a pipa.
Woman playing a sanxian.
Woman playing a yunluo.
Woman playing a xiaoluo.
Woman playing a haotou.
Woman playing a xiao.
Woman playing what looks like a yangqin or some sort of psaltery-like instrument.
These watercolour illustrations, made in China in the 1800s, show several types of musical instruments being played: