rattle drum

musical instrument

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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A rattle drum is a type of percussion instrument where the sound is produced by enclosed pellets or knotted cords striking the membrane when the drum is twirled or shaken. These drums have a long history, dating back to the Shang dynasty in China (c. 1600–1046 BCE).12

Rattle drums are found across various cultures, from South Asia to Japan, and are still used ritually in some regions, notably as an attribute of Shiva, a deity in Hinduism. In other contexts, they have evolved into toys. The basic principle of a rattle involves resonant objects that produce sound when shaken or struck against each other.23

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percussion instrument
Membranophones
…rattle—an early application of the rattle drum principle. As in Africa and the Americas, ritual drums of Asia have been associated with human sacrifice; in China, drums were consecrated in the 7th and 6th centuries bce by smearing them with sacrificial blood, usually that of a war captive.
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…rattle—an early application of the rattle drum principle. As in Africa and the Americas, ritual drums of Asia have been associated with human sacrifice; in China, drums were consecrated in the 7th and 6th centuries bce by smearing them with sacrificial blood, usually that of a war captive.
Read More

drum
…of China) are known as rattle drums.
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…of China) are known as rattle drums.
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