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.
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.