When did gongs and cymbals enter Chinese musical traditions?

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Chinese music: 12 pitches of the lü — Chinese music Twelve pitches of Chinese music as produced by overblowing the lü, bamboo tuning pipes (starting for ease of comparison from Western C).

The earliest evidence of a gong in China dates to the early Western Han dynasty (3rd century BCE), with an example discovered in a tomb in Guangxi province.1

While this early artifact exists, historical records indicate that gongs and cymbals were more broadly introduced into Chinese musical traditions no later than the Nan (Southern) and Bei (Northern) dynasties (420–589 CE). Their arrival was closely linked to the importation of Buddhism from India and the influence of Central Asian cultures via the Silk Road. By the Sui (581–618 CE) and Tang (618–907 CE) dynasties, these instruments were featured prominently in court orchestras and were frequently depicted in Buddhist mural paintings before eventually becoming staples of Chinese folk music.1