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What instruments were found in the tomb of the ancient state of Zeng in Hubei province?
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Chinese performing arts
Contemporary kunqu performer.
The tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng (Zenghouyi), dating to approximately 433 BCE in Hubei province, contained a significant collection of ancient musical instruments. These include:
- Zhong: A set of 64 clapperless bronze bells, known as bianzhong, which were mounted on an L-shaped frame in three tiers.12
- Zhu: Burial models of this ancient struck half-tube zither were discovered in the tomb.2
- Paixiao: A raft of bamboo panpipes.2
- Stone chimes: The tomb contained several well-preserved examples of these sonorous stone instruments.2
The discovery of these instruments, particularly the bianzhong, has provided invaluable insight into the musical capabilities and craftsmanship of the period, including the use of dual-pitch bells and a five-octave range.1