Ryuteki (龍笛 "dragon flute")

Unknown

19th century · Bamboo, various woods · Musical Instruments

Seldom played as a solo instrument, the ryūteki, along with the double-reed hichiriki, is a main melodic instrument of gagaku (court music). Its bamboo body tubing is wrapped with cherry bark or rattan twine to help preserve it. Here, the dragon-carved case hints at its contents: the ryūteki’s sound is said to represent the dragons that soar between heaven and earth.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Bamboo, various woods

Culture

Japanese

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889