Description: The xun is an aerophone (wind) instrument whom belongs to the “ocarina” or “vessel” family of instruments. The xun has its origins in the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China. The xun in its first developmental stages had its origins in many shapes, sizes, and pitch ranges. And also the ancient Chinese associated the xun with the “sounds of autumn”. The xun was discovered during an archaeological dig at the Hemudu culture site (5,000-3,000BC) at Yuyao, Zhejiang. The xun had almost disappeared completely in mainland China but because of this dig during the 1920s and 30s. The xun has made something of a come-back in mainland Chinese music. In Taiwan however the xun has been mainly intact for many years. Also in Hong Kong there are a few known soloists of the xun. the xun recently became popular in use through Chinese contemporary music and in particular "cinima scores" or "film compositions".

Citations: chineseinstruments.org, asza.com (xun), 2007.01.03 Thursday.