Pipa (琵琶 )

Jiu-cheng

19th century · Wood, ivory, bone, gut · Musical Instruments

The term pipa has been known since the 3rd century B.C. It originally described the playing motion of the right hand: p'i, "to play forward" (left), and p'a, "to play backward" (right). In addition to its use in the opera and in story telling ensembles, the pipa has a solo repertoire of highly programmatic, virtuosic music.

Artist

Jiu-cheng

Date

19th century

Medium

Wood, ivory, bone, gut

Culture

Chinese

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889