Museumofworldmusic.com

China

Instruments

Name: Jing-hu.

Type: Bowed > Chordophones.

Region: China > Far East Asia.

Dimensions: Length 52 cm.

Acquisition Date: Circa Year 2005.

Acquisition Source: Rufus Guitars, Vancouver Canada.

Description: The jing-hu is the smallest member and the highest pitched of the huqin family of bowed musical instruments. The huqin family of instruments may have originated from the xiqin of the Xi people. The huqin family includes the erhu, gao-hu and ban-hu. The origins of the jing-hu date back to the Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BC). In Beijing Opera the jing-hu is one of the premiere lead instruments and due to its high pitch doubles as a second human voice.

Anatomy of the Jing-hu:
The components include a body, shaft, strings, friction tuning pegs and a small brass hook called a [king tong]. Two holes are cut into the body in the back and front sides. A bamboo shaft is inserted to the holes.Jing Hu Body This creates the main basic shape of the instrument. On the top of the shaft two equidistant holes are cut on either side one slightly below the other, these holes are where the tuning pegs are located. Two wooden tuning pegs are hand carved then inserted into either side facing left and right. A small brass hook called the [king tong] is tied onto the body with string that serves as a kind of nut. Inside the sound hole behind the body two ovoid holes are visible from the back inwards. These holes assist in providing resonance for the sound to travel though. On the front of the body snake skin or synthetic material is applied. This assembly creates the acoustic chamber. A small moveable bridge is place underneath the strings.

 

 

Citations: A blog of a Beijing Opera Musician (in Chinese)