Sheng

ClassificationsTools and Equipment-musical instruments

Culture Miao

Date20th Century

Made AtChina, Asia

MediumMetal and bamboo

DimensionsAssembled: 20 3/4 × 4 × 7 3/4 in. (52.7 × 10.2 × 19.7 cm)

Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih

Object number2020.14.21a-s

DescriptionThis is a sheng, a type of Chinese reed instrument. This example was used by the Miao people of China. The Sheng has a long history in China, dating back to at least 1100 BCE and plays an important role in the teachings of Confucius. The instrument has a varying number of pipes and though it was traditionally made exclusively from bamboo, has since come to be made of several different mediums. This instrument has 14 pipes, making it a smaller set. The instrument is played by blowing into the metal mouthpiece while covering the holes in pipes of different lengths to produce different notes. It is as characteristic of the Miao peoples of China as much as it is of Han Chinese culture, and an instrument of choice in playing many traditional folk songs.

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