thumb|right|140px|The front of a glazed pottery xun, showing blowing hole and six finger holes

thumb|right|140px|The back of a glazed pottery xun, showing blowing hole and two thumb holes

The xun () is a globular, vessel flute from China. It is one of the oldest musical instruments in China and has been in use for approximately 7,000 years. and later of clay or ceramic; sometimes the instrument is made with bamboo. It is the only surviving example of an earth (also called "clay") instrument from the traditional "eight-tone" (bayin) classifications of musical instruments (based on whether the instrument is made from metal, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, earth, hide, or wood).

Components

The xun is an egg-shaped aerophone, containing at least three finger holes in front and two thumb holes in back. It has a blowing hole on top and can have up to ten smaller finger holes, one for each finger. It is similar to an ocarina but does not contain a fipple mouthpiece, unlike other Chinese flute-like instruments, such as the Wudu and Taodi. The xun can come in a variety of sizes.

The entry for the Xun in the oldest surviving Chinese encyclopedia, Erya (Refined Definitions, c. 3rd century BC), describes it as being of two types:

  1. large, shaped like a goose egg, with flattened bottom and six holes (lower pitch);
  2. small, shaped like a chicken egg (higher pitch).

History and development

The origin of this unique wind instrument dates back to the Stone Age and has much to do with early Chinese hunting practices. However, the sound of xun is also associated as the symbol of respectable hermits, lady in sorrow, or heroes at the end of their strength, and is considered the best instrument to perform a heartbreaking tone, or to make solemn music within the royal court.

In literature

Erya (爾雅): "A large xun is like a goose egg, with a flattened bottom and six holes; a small one is like a chicken egg"

Classic of Poetry (詩經): "The elder brother plays xun, the younger brother plays chi [transverse flute]"

See also

  • Ocarina
  • Chinese flutes
  • Traditional Chinese musical instruments
  • Music of China

References