The piri () is a Korean double reed instrument, used in both the folk and classical (court) music of Korea. Originating in Central Asia, it was introduced to the Korean peninsula from China, and has been used there as early as the Three Kingdoms period in the states of Goguryeo and Baekje. The instrument consists of a tube of bamboo, which is perforated with finger holes, and has a large double reed. It has a cylindrical bore.
There are several types of piri:
- Hyangpiri () The sepiri is the smaller, thinner, and much quieter one.
The piri is believed to have been introduced to Korea from Kucha, a Buddhist oasis state of Central Asia (modern-day Xinjiang) before the Goguryeo period. According to the Book of Sui, the piri was also known as gagwan (), and it originates from Kucha. During the reign of King Yejong of Goryeo dynasty, another double-reed cylindrical instrument was imported from Song dynasty China, and to disambiguate, the former was named hyangpiri and the latter dangpiri. The sepiri is smaller than the hyangpiri, but has the same structure and range. The sepiri appears to have been invented much later than the hyangpiri.
The piris equivalent in China is the guan (also known as bili), and its counterpart in Japan is the hichiriki.
See also
- Traditional Korean musical instruments