Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Where did the pipa and konghu likely originate before entering China?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Chinese music
Twelve pitches of Chinese music as produced by overblowing the lü, bamboo tuning pipes (starting for ease of comparison from Western C).
Both the pipa and the konghou are considered to have origins in West Asia before their introduction to China.12
- Pipa: This pear-shaped plucked lute is widely recognized as having West Asian ancestors. Specifically, the direct ancestor of the contemporary pipa, known as the quxiang ("curved-neck") pipa, traveled from Persia along the Silk Road and reached western China by the 4th century CE.21
- Konghou: This instrument, a member of the harp family, can be traced back across Central Asia to the ancient bas-reliefs of Assyria, an ancient kingdom located in what is now southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq.2