This presentation aims to provide non-native English speakers to enhance their English reading skill on Chinese music instruments as well as college students who want to study English for specific purpose in the field of music. I would like to thanks all writers and contributors who provide information and pictures used in this presentation.
4. Map of People’s Republic of China
http://www.maps-world.net/southern-asia.htm
5. Area controlled by the People's Republic of China shown in dark green;
claimed but uncontrolled regions shown in light green.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China#/media/File:People%27s_Republic_of_China_(orthographic_projection).svg
6. Flag of the People’s Republic of China
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China#/media/File:Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg
7. National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China#/media/File:National_Emblem_of_the_People%27s_
Republic_of_China_(2).svg
8. A brief summary of P.R. China
Official language: Standard Chinese
Recognized regional languages: Mongolian, Uyghur,
Tibetan, Zhuang, and various others
Capital: Beijing
Currency: Renminbi (Yuan) (CNY)
Population: 1,403,500,365 (2016- estimate) – 1st
Ethnic groups: Han (91.5%), and 55 minorities
Religion: Non-religions/Chinee folk religion 73.56%,
Buddhism (15.87% and others
Proclamation of the People’s Republic:
1 October 1949
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China
9. China's First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, is famed for having united the
Warring States' walls to form the Great Wall of China. Most of the present
structure, however, dates to the Ming dynasty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China#/media/File:Chinesische-mauer.jpg
10. Mao Zedong (毛泽东 December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976), also
known as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary who
became the founding father of the People's Republic of China, which he
ruled as the Chairman of the Communist Party of China from its
establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. His theories, military
strategies, and political policies are collectively known as Maoism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong
11. CNY 100 = USD 14.48 or THB 472.35 [23 Dec 2018]
https://www.banknotenews.com/files/tag-china.php
https://transferwise.com/gb/currency-converter/cny-to-usd-rate?amount=100
13. National Flower: Although People’s Republic of China has not officially
declared a national flower, everyone in China knows that the Republic’s
unofficial national flower is peony (Paeonia Suffruticosa) also called 牡丹
(mǔdān) or 富贵花 (fùguìhuā) “flower of riches and honour”, 花王 (huawang)
“king of the flowers”, and is used symbolically in Chinese art and is
considered as a symbol of prosperity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Flower_of_the_Republic_of_China
https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/paeonia-suffruticosa-asuka
14. The Chinese dragon is a legendary creature appearing in Chinese
mythology and folklore. The dragon has many animal-like forms,
including those resembling turtles and fish, but is usually depicted as
a snake with four legs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_symbols_of_China
Illustration of Traditional Chinese Dragon copyright : Teerapat Pattanasoponpong
https://www.123rf.com/photo_73556326_stock-vector-illustration-of-traditional-chinese-dragon
15. A giant panda, China's most famous endangered and endemic species,
at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China#/media/File:Giant_Panda_Eating.jpg
16. Music of China refers to the music of the Chinese people,
which may be the music of the Han Chinese as well as other
ethnic minorities within mainland China. It also includes music
produced by people of Chinese origin in some territories
outside mainland China using traditional Chinese instruments
or in the Chinese language. It covers a highly diverse range of
music from the traditional to the modern.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_China
Re-enactment of a traditional music performance at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_China#/media/File:ConcertGroupPano.jpg
17. According to Wikipedia, Chinese musical instruments were
traditionally grouped 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 groups. Each category consists of many different kinds
of instruments. In this presentation, I would like to show top
instruments as described in chinawhisper.com & ancientpages.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_musical_instruments
https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/set-of-chinese-musical-instruments-vector-21256595
18. Top 10 Chinese Musical Instruments
Chinese musical instruments can trace its history to several
thousand years ago. Each of them produces a different and
unique sound and effect. These musical instruments not only
entertain people but also play an important part in traditional
Chinese culture. Now let us have a look at 10 famous
Chinese music instruments:
http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments
http://www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/20/10-ancient-chinese-musical-instruments-you-didnt-know-about/
19. 1. Erhu (Chinese two-stringed fiddle ) 二胡
The Erhu (or Chinese violin) is a kind of two-stringed bowed musical
instrument. Its history can be dated back to Tang Dynasty over 1,000
years ago. Erhu can be used as a solo performance as well as in small
musical groups and large orchestras. It is one of the most popular bowed
string instruments used by many ethnic groups in China.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
https://www.amazon.com/Instrument-Chinese-Violin-Fiddle-Accessories/dp/B00BS4TR6A
21. 2. Guzheng (Chinese Zither) 古筝
The Guzheng is a Chinese plucked zither. It is made of 18-23 or more
strings and movable bridges. People believe that it has been invented
during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). The performer pluck
the strings at the right portion with right hand, and left hand presses the
string on the left side of the bridge to produce pitch ornamentation and
vibrato. The skilled player can create sounds that can evoke the sense
of waterfall, thunder, and even the scenic countryside.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
P
http://www.absolutechinatours.com/china-travel/Guzheng.html
23. 3. Dizi (Chinese bamboo flute) 笛子
The Dizi (or Bamboo Flute) is a Chinese style flute. Dizi is made of
bamboo, the body has six finger-holes, one blow-hole, and an extra hole
between them covered by a thin membrane of reed. Dizi is a classical
Chinese musical instrument widely used many genres of Chinese music.
It is also very popular among the common Chinese people as it is
easier to make and play than other music instruments.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
https://www.amazon.com/OrientalMusicSanctuary-Bitter-Bamboo-Flute-
Beginners/dp/B072C49L7Z
25. 4. Suona 唢呐
The Suona, also called Laba, is double-reed woodwind instrument. It can
produce particularly loud and high-pitched sound and is widely used in
Chinese traditional music ensembles especially in northern China. It is
can be played solo or many times together with Sheng, drums, and other
instruments in wedding and funeral ceremonies.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
www.chineseshop.ge
27. 5. Big Drum 大鼓
Big Drum is usually a stretched hide over a hollow vessel. Player use two
bamboo or wood sticks to beat the drum. From ancient to modern times,
Big Drum has always been a folk musical instrument liked by people
around the country. It is widely used in the occasions of celebration,
military, entertainment and festival, etc.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
29. 6. Xiao 箫
The Xiao is a Chinese vertical flute with blow-hole at one end. Xiao is
usually made of dark brown bamboo and can produce graceful and
mellow sound suitable for both solo playing and chamber music
ensembles. It is believed that the earliest Xiao was used by the Qiang
people of Southwest China during the Han Dynasty (206 BC.- 220 AD).
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Professional-Purple-Bamboo-Flute-Xiao-Instrument-Chinese-Shakuhachi-2-Sections/32306563764.html
31. 7. Hulusi 葫芦丝
The Hulusi is a free reed wind solo instrument that is very popular among
the Dai and the Yi minorities in southwest Yunnan provinces. It is made
of three bamboo pipes and a gourd chest; the center pipe has finger
holes and the outer two are drone pipes. Hulusi has very pure, clarinet-
like sound and is ideal for expressing soft and tender feelings.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
33. 8. Pipa (Chinese lute) 琵琶
The Pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument. It has 16 frets
and a pear-shaped wooden body. It is able to express various emotions
such as portraying battles and great tension or expressing tones on sad
songs or love ballads. Pipa has a long history in China and is believed to
have existed about two thousand years ago in China.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
35. 9. Sheng 笙
The Sheng is a mouth-blown free reed instrument. It is usually made of
17 bamboo pipes set in a small wind-chest. Its history can be traced back
to 1100 BC. This mouth-blown instrument has a delightful, lyrical sound
and it is traditionally played as an accompaniment to Suona or Dizi.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
37. 10. Guqin 古琴
The Guqin is a plucked seven-string zither. It has a history of some 3000
years. In ancient China, it has been favored by scholars as an instrument
of elevating spirit. It is often regarded by the Chinese as “the father of
Chinese music”, however, only a small number of people can play the
instrument, because musical education of Guqin has never really
reached general public.
Credit: http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-musical-instruments/
39. Xun is one of the oldest Chinese musical instruments. It has a history
of more than 7,000 years. The instrument has been discovered along
the Yangtze River and the Yellow River as Neolithic relics, and is
believed to have been very popular in ancient China. Ancient people
used a kind of oval stone with naturally formed holes on it to hunt the
preys. When thrown it at the animals, the stone produced a whistling
sound as the air flowed through the holes, which could have provided
inspiration for early wind instruments.
Credit:http://www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/20/10-ancient-chinese-musical-instruments-you-didnt-know-about/
In addition, the website http://www.ancientpages.com shows additional
Chinese ancient instruments as follows;
41. Guqin is also known as the Seven-stringed Qin. There is an ancient story
behind this intriguing instrument. During the spring and autumn Period (770
B.C. - 476 B.C.), there was a man named Yu Boya, who was a famous music
master at that time. He happened to meet Zhong Ziqi. Whatever Yu played,
Zhong could understand very well and so they became bosom friends. They
decided to meet again the next year. Unfortunately, Zhong died before they
could meet. Yu played at Zhong's graveyard for the last time and crashed his
Guqin. He decided never to play the Guqin any more to show his deep
friendship to Zhong and how difficult to meet a bosom friend.
http://www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/20/10-ancient-chinese-musical-instruments-you-didnt-know-about/
43. Ancient Chinese chimes: Chinese archeologists found in the tomb of
King Yi of the Zeng State a huge underground music palace located in Hubei
Province in 1978. The chime bells of King Yi of the Zeng State are now
preserved in Hubei Provincial Museum.
Credit:http://www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/20/10-ancient-chinese-musical-instruments-you-didnt-know-about/
45. Konghou: The Konghou is an ancient Chinese, plucked string instrument. It is not of
Chinese origin, but was introduced to China from the West during the Han Dynasty about
2,000 years ago. According to historical records, it was divided into the horizontal konghou
and the vertical konghou because of difference in shape.
Credit:http://www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/20/10-ancient-chinese-musical-instruments-you-didnt-know-about/
http://www.chineseculture.net/musicmall/instruments/htmls/others/konghou.htm
47. Liuqin – ancient Chinese instrument reminding of a mandolin
Liuqin is a smaller version of pipa with four strings, which sound similar
to mandolin. Throughout its history, the liuqin came in variations ranging
from two (which only had a range of one and a half octaves) to four
strings. However, the earliest precursor of the modern four-stringed
version of the instrument appeared and experienced popularity during
the Qing Dynasty. This version had two strings, and was only used for
accompaniment purposes in traditional operas, as mentioned before.
Credit:http://www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/20/10-ancient-chinese-musical-instruments-you-didnt-know-about/
50. A Chinese woman in Tang
Dynasty-style attire playing
traditional Chinese musical
instrument
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/46/d5/e4/46d5e
4ea54845e3d73fdcd64b119a5f6.jpg
Thank for Watching
