Chinese musical instruments were traditionally classified into 8 categories known as bayin (八音). The eight categories are: silk, bamboo, wood, stone, metal, clay, gourd and skin. There are other instruments which may not fit these classifications. This is one of the first musical classifications ever devised.
Silk instruments are mostly stringed instruments (including those that are plucked, bowed, and struck). Since ancient times the Chinese have used twisted silk for strings, though today metal or nylon are more frequently used. Instruments in the silk category include:
Guqin (Chinese: 古琴; pinyin: gǔqín) – 7-stringed zithersSe (Chinese: 瑟; pinyin: sè) – 25-stringed zither with movable bridges (ancient sources say 13, 25 or 50 strings)Guzheng (古箏) – 16–26 stringed zither with movable bridgesKonghou (箜篌) – harpPipa (琵琶) – pear-shaped fretted lute with 4 or 5 stringsSanxian (三弦) – plucked lute with body covered with snakeskin and long fretless neckRuan (Chinese: 阮; pinyin: ruǎn) – moon-shaped lute in five sizes: gaoyin-, xiao-, zhong-, da-, and diyin-; sometimes called ruanqin (阮琴)Liuqin (柳琴) – small plucked, fretted lute with a pear-shaped body and four stringsYueqin (月琴) – plucked lute with a wooden body, a short fretted neck, and four strings tuned in pairsQinqin (秦琴) – plucked lute with a wooden body and fretted neck; also called meihuaqin (梅花琴, literally "plum blossom instrument", from its flower-shaped body)Duxianqin (simplified Chinese: 独弦琴; traditional Chinese: 獨弦琴) – the instrument of Jing People (Vietnamese people in China) plucked zither with only one string a monochord zither tuned to c3.wenqin 文琴 a combination of the erhu , konghou , sanxian and gusheng with 50 or more strings made of silk.wenzhenqin 文枕琴 a zither with 25 or more string either plucked or bowedHuqin (胡琴) – family of vertical fiddlesErhu (二胡) – two-stringed fiddleZhonghu (中胡) – two-stringed fiddle, lower pitch than erhuGaohu (高胡) – two-stringed fiddle, higher pitch than erhu; also called yuehu (粤胡)Banhu (板胡) – two-stringed fiddle with a coconut resonator and wooden face, used primarily in northern ChinaJinghu (京胡) – two-stringed fiddle, very high pitched, used mainly for Beijing operaJing erhu (京二胡) – erhu used in Beijing operaErxian (二弦) – two-stringed fiddle, used in Cantonese, Chaozhou, and nanguan musicTiqin (提琴) – two-stringed fiddle, used in kunqu, Chaozhou, Cantonese, Fujian, and Taiwanese musicYehu (椰胡) – two-stringed fiddle with coconut body, used primarily in Cantonese and Chaozhou musicDaguangxian (大广弦) – two-stringed fiddle used in Taiwan and Fujian, primarily by Min Nan and Hakka people; also called datongxian (大筒弦), guangxian (广弦), and daguanxian (大管弦)Datong (大筒) – two-stringed fiddle used in the traditional music of HunanKezaixian (壳仔弦) – two-stringed fiddle with coconut body, used in Taiwan operaLiujiaoxian (六角弦) – two-stringed fiddle with hexagonal body, similar to the jing erhu; used primarily in TaiwanTiexianzai (鐵弦仔) – a two-stringed fiddle with metal amplifying horn at the end of its neck, used in Taiwan; also called guchuixian (鼓吹弦)Hexian (和弦) – large fiddle used primarily among the Hakka of TaiwanHuluqin (葫芦琴) – two-stringed fiddle with gourd body used by the Naxi of YunnanHuluhu (simplified Chinese: 葫芦胡; traditional Chinese: 葫盧胡) – two-stringed fiddle with gourd body used by the Zhuang of GuangxiMaguhu (simplified Chinese: 马骨胡; traditional Chinese: 馬骨胡; pinyin: mǎgǔhú) – two-stringed fiddle with horse bone body used by the Zhuang and Buyei peoples of southern ChinaTuhu (土胡) – two-stringed fiddle used by the Zhuang people of GuangxiJiaohu (角胡) – two-stringed fiddle used by the Gelao people of Guangxi, as well as the Miao and DongSihu (四胡) – four-stringed fiddle with strings tuned in pairsSanhu (三胡) – 3-stringed erhu with an additional bass string; developed in the 1970s [1]Zhuihu (simplified Chinese: 坠胡; traditional Chinese: 墜胡) – two-stringed fiddle with fingerboardZhuiqin (traditional: 墜琴; simplified: 坠琴) – two-stringed fiddle with fingerboardLeiqin (雷琴) – two-stringed fiddle with fingerboardDihu (低胡) – low pitched two-stringed fiddles in the erhu family, in three sizes:Xiaodihu (小低胡) – small dihu, tuned one octave below the erhuZhongdihu (中低胡) – medium dihu, tuned one octave below the zhonghuDadihu (大低胡) – large dihu, tuned two octaves below the erhuDahu (大胡) – another name for the xiaodihuCizhonghu – another name for the xiaodihuGehu (革胡) – four-stringed bass instrument, tuned and played like celloDiyingehu (低音革胡) – four stringed contrabass instrument, tuned and played like double bassLaruan (拉阮) – four-stringed bowed instrument modeled on the celloPaqin (琶琴) – modern bowed instrumentDapaqin (大琶琴) – bass paqinDixianqin (低絃琴)-also called yihu (一胡) a bowed monochord zitherNiutuiqin or niubatui (牛腿琴 or 牛巴腿) – two-stringed fiddle used by the Dong people of GuizhouMatouqin (馬頭琴) – (Mongolian: morin khuur) – Mongolian two-stringed "horsehead fiddle"Xiqin (奚琴) – ancient prototype of huqin family of instrumentsYazheng (simplified: 轧筝; traditional: 軋箏) – bowed zither; also called yaqin (simplified: 轧琴; traditional: 軋琴)Zhengni (筝尼) – bowed zither; used by the Zhuang people of GuangxiGhaychak (艾捷克) – four-stringed bowed instrument used in Xinjiang; similar to kamancheh [2]Sataer (萨它尔) – long-necked bowed lute used in XinjiangYangqin (揚琴) - hammered dulcimerZhu (筑) - a guqin played with a bamboo plectrumNiujinqin (牛筋琴) - a zither played with a mallet used to accompany traditional narrative singing in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, ChinaBamboo mainly refers to woodwind instruments, which includes;
Dizi (笛子) - transverse bamboo flute with buzzing membraneBangdi (梆笛)Xiao (simplified Chinese: 箫; traditional Chinese: 簫; pinyin: xiāo) - end-blown flute; also called dongxiao (simplified Chinese: 洞箫; traditional Chinese: 洞簫)Paixiao (simplified Chinese: 排箫; traditional Chinese: 排簫; pinyin: páixiāo) - pan pipesChi (篪; pinyin: chí) - ancient transverse bamboo fluteYue (籥; pinyin: yuè) - ancient notched vertical bamboo flute with three finger holes; used in Confucian ritual music and danceXindi (新笛) - modern transverse flute with as many as 21 holesDongdi (侗笛) - wind instrument of the Dong people of southern ChinaKoudi (口笛; pinyin: kǒudí) - very small transverse bamboo fluteBawu (simplified Chinese: 巴乌; traditional Chinese: 巴烏; pinyin: bāwū) - side-blown free reed pipe with finger holesMangtong (芒筒; pinyin: mángtǒng) - end-blown free reed pipe producing a single pitchMiaozu di (Chinese: 苗族笛; pinyin: miáozú díMabu (马布) - single-reed bamboo pipe played by the Yi peopleGuan (Chinese: 管; pinyin: guǎn) - cylindrical double reed wind instrument made of either hardwood (Northern China) or bamboo (Cantonese); the northern version is also called guanzi (管子) or bili (traditional: 篳篥; simplified: 筚篥), the Cantonese version is also called houguan (喉管), and the Taiwanese version is called 鸭母哒仔, 鴨母笛, or Taiwan guan (台湾管)Suona (simplified Chinese: 唢呐; traditional Chinese: 嗩吶) - double-reed wind instrument with a flaring metal bell; also called haidi (海笛)Most wood instruments are of the ancient variety:
Zhu (Chinese: 柷; pinyin: zhù) – a wooden box that tapers from the top to the bottom, played by hitting a stick on the inside, used to mark the beginning of music in ancient ritual musicYu (Chinese: 敔; pinyin: yǔ) – a wooden percussion instrument carved in the shape of a tiger with a serrated back, played by hitting a stick with an end made of approximately 15 stalks of bamboo on its head three times and across the serrated back once to mark the end of the musicMuyu (simplified Chinese: 木鱼; traditional Chinese: 木魚; pinyin: mùyú) – a rounded woodblock carved in the shape of a fish, struck with a wooden stick; often used in Buddhist chantingPaiban (拍板) – a clapper made from several flat pieces of wood; also called bǎn (板), tánbǎn (檀板), mùbǎn (木板), or shūbǎn (书板); when used together with a drum the two instruments are referred to collectively as guban (鼓板)Zhuban (竹板, a clapper made from two pieces of bamboo)Chiban (尺板)Bangzi (梆子) – small, high-pitched woodblock; called qiaozi (敲子) or qiaoziban (敲子板) in TaiwanNan bangzi (南梆子)Hebei bangzi (河北梆子)Zhui bangzi (墜梆子)Qin bangzi (秦梆子)The "stone" category comprises various forms of stone chimes.
Bianqing (simplified Chinese: 编磬; traditional Chinese: 編磬; pinyin: biānqìng) – a rack of stone tablets that are hung by ropes from a wooden frame and struck using a malletTezhong (特鐘) – a single large stone tablet hung by a rope in a wooden frame and struck using a malletSounding stone or Qing (磬)Bianzhong (編鐘) – 16 to 65 bronze bells hung on a rack, struck using polesFangxiang (simplified Chinese: 方响; traditional Chinese: 方響; pinyin: fāngxiǎng; Wade–Giles: fang hsiang) – set of tuned metal slabs (metallophone)Nao (musical instrument) (鐃) – may refer to either an ancient bell or large cymbalsShangnao (商鐃) – ancient bellphotoBo (鈸; also called chazi, 镲子) –Xiaobo (小鈸, small cymbals)Zhongbo (中鈸, medium cymbals; also called naobo (鐃鈸) or zhongcuoShuibo (水鈸, literally "water cymbals")Dabo (大鈸, large cymbals)Jingbo (京鈸)Shenbo (深波) – deep, flat gong used in Chaozhou music; also called gaobian daluo (高边大锣)Luo (simplified Chinese: 锣; traditional Chinese: 鑼; pinyin: luó) – gongDaluo (大锣) – a large flat gong whose pitch drops when struck with a padded malletFengluo (风锣) – literally "wind gong," a large flat gong played by rolling or striking with a large padded malletXiaoluo (小锣) – a small flat gong whose pitch rises when struck with the side of a flat wooden stickYueluo (月锣) – small pitched gong held by a string in the palm of the hand and struck with a small stick; used in Chaozhou musicJingluo (镜锣) – a small flat gong used in the traditional music of Fujian [3]Pingluo (平锣) – a flat gongKailuluo (开路锣)Yunluo (simplified Chinese: 云锣; traditional Chinese: 雲鑼) – literally "cloud gongs"; 10 or more small tuned gongs in a frameShimianluo (十面锣) – 10 small tuned gongs in a frameQing (磬) – a cup-shaped bell used in Buddhist and Daoist ritual musicDaqing (大磬) – large qingPengling (碰铃; pinyin: pènglíng) – a pair of small bowl-shaped finger cymbals or bells connected by a length of cord, which are struck togetherDangzi (铛子) – a small, round, flat, tuned gong suspended by being tied with silk string in a round metal frame that is mounted on a thin wooden handlephoto; also called dangdang (铛铛)Yinqing (引磬) – an inverted small bell affixed to the end of a thin wooden handlephotoYunzheng (云铮) – a small flat gong used in the traditional music of Fujian [4]Chun (錞; pinyin: chún) – ancient bellphotoWeichun (帷錞) – ancient hanging bellBronze drum (铜鼓)Laba (喇叭) – A long, straight, valveless brass trumpetXun (埙, Chinese: 塤; pinyin: xūn) – ocarina made of baked clayFou (Chinese: 缶; pinyin: fǒu) – clay pot played as a percussion instrumentSheng (Chinese: 笙; pinyin: shēng) – free reed mouth organ consisting of varying number of bamboo pipes inserted into a metal (formerly gourd or hardwood) chamber with finger holesBaosheng (抱笙) – larger version of the ShengYu (Chinese: 竽; pinyin: yú) – ancient free reed mouth organ similar to the sheng but generally largerHe (Chinese: 和; pinyin: he) – ancient free reed mouth organ similar to the sheng but smallerHulusi (simplified Chinese: 葫芦丝; traditional Chinese: 葫蘆絲; pinyin: húlúsī) – free-reed wind instrument with three bamboo pipes which pass through a gourd wind chest; one pipe has finger holes and the other two are drone pipes; used primarily in Yunnan provinceHulusheng (simplified Chinese: 葫芦笙; traditional Chinese: 葫蘆笙; pinyin: húlúshēng) – free-reed mouth organ with a gourd wind chest; used primarily in Yunnan provinceDagu – (大鼓) – large drum played with two sticksHuapengu (花盆鼓) – flowerpot-shaped large drum played with two sticks; also called ganggu (缸鼓)Huzuo Dagu (虎座大鼓)Huzuo Wujia Gu (虎座鳥架鼓)Jian'gu (建鼓)Bangu (板鼓) – small, high pitched drum used in Beijing opera; also called danpigu (单皮鼓)Biangu (扁鼓) – flat drum, played with sticksPaigu (排鼓) – set of three to seven tuned drums played with sticksTanggu (堂鼓) – medium-sized barrel drum played with two sticks; also called tonggu (同鼓) or xiaogu (小鼓)Biqigu (荸荠鼓) – a very small drum played with one stick, used in Jiangnan sizhuDiangu (点鼓; also called huaigu, 怀鼓) – a double-headed frame drum played with a single wooden beater; used in the Shifangu ensemble music of Jiangsu province and to accompany to kunqu operaHuagu (花鼓) – flower drumYaogu (腰鼓) – waist drumTaipinggu (太平鼓) – flat drum with a handle; also called dangu (单鼓)Zhangu (战鼓 or 戰鼓) – war drum; played with two sticksBajiao gu (八角鼓) – octagonal tambourine used primarily in narrative singing from northern China zh:八角鼓Yanggegu (秧歌鼓) – rice planting drumGaogu (鼛鼓) – large ancient drum used to for battlefield commands and large-scale constructionBofu (搏拊) – ancient drum used to set tempoJiegu (羯鼓) – hourglass-shaped drum used during the Tang DynastyTao (鼗; pinyin: táo) or taogu (鼗鼓) – a pellet drum used in ritual musicBolang Gu (波浪鼓;pinyin: bo lang gu) – a traditional Chinese pellet drum and toyGudi (骨笛) – an ancient flute made of boneHailuo (海螺) – conch shell [5]Lilie (唎咧) – reed wind instrument with a conical bore played by the Li people of HainanLusheng (simplified Chinese: 芦笙; traditional Chinese: 蘆笙; pinyin: lúshēng) – free-reed mouth organ with five or six pipes, played by various ethnic groups in southwest China and neighboring countriesKouxian (口弦) – jaw harp, made of bamboo or metalMuye (木叶) – tree leaf used as a wind instrumentChinese 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.
These watercolour illustrations, made in China in the 1800s, show several types of musical instruments being played: