{"id":13924,"date":"2017-12-13T09:00:21","date_gmt":"2017-12-13T13:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/?p=13924"},"modified":"2017-12-06T20:45:53","modified_gmt":"2017-12-07T00:45:53","slug":"chinese-bowed-string-instruments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/chinese-bowed-string-instruments\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Bowed String Instruments"},"content":{"rendered":"

In\u00a0my first post<\/a>\u00a0about traditional Chinese instruments, I covered some of the history and background, along with the plucked string instruments. In that post, we learned about the guqin, pipa, ruan, and guzheng. Now, let\u2019s focus on the Chinese bowed string instruments.<\/p>\n

Huqin Instruments<\/h2>\n

The Er Hu belongs to a series of Chinese instruments known as the\u00a0Huqin<\/strong>\u00a0(\u80e1\u7434 \u2013 h\u00fa q\u00edn). These instruments all have two strings (with the exception of the\u00a0Si Hu, which has four), and a soundbox at the bottom of the neck covered in snakeskin or thin wood.\u00a0We’ll start with the most famous – the Er Hu.<\/p>\n

Erhu (\u4e8c\u80e1 – \u00e8r\u00a0h\u00fa)<\/h3>\n
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Image by Jordi Pay\u00e0 from flickr.com.
Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Er Hu is often called the “Chinese violin,” and it’s perhaps the most common traditional instrument in the country. It’s definitely the most popular of the huqin instruments. All across the country, you’ll hear people playing it in parks and train stations. The Er Hu has a history going back more than a thousand years.\u00a0Its design\u00a0consists of a long stick-like\u00a0neck, with two large\u00a0tuning pegs\u00a0stretching two strings to the top.\u00a0The simple design is also what makes it such a unique instrument.\u00a0The Er Hu\u2019s characteristic sound is produced through the vibration of the\u00a0python\u00a0skin (covering the base of the violin). There is also no fingerboard as the player applies light pressure onto the strings without the strings ever touching the neck.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/1GqVXBIqeT4<\/a><\/p>\n

Take a closer look at the Er Hu in this great video.<\/em><\/p>\n

Zhong Hu<\/strong>\u00a0(\u4e2d\u80e1 – zh\u014dng h\u00fa)<\/h3>\n
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Image by Alex Stoll from flickr.com.
Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)<\/p><\/div>\n

If the\u00a0Er Hu\u00a0<\/em>is the Chinese violin, the\u00a0Zhong Hu\u00a0is the Chinese viola. The shape is a bit larger, and it generates a much lower pitch. Its two strings are tuned to a perfect fifth (usually G and D or A and E), and it is often used in orchestras or as a solo instrument. As it is an alto instrument with two octaves, the\u00a0Zhong Hu\u00a0gives off a deep and gloomy tone.<\/p>\n