Yuping Xiao

Zhishan Zheng

ca. 1890 · Xui bamboo (water bamboo) · Musical Instruments

The Yuping xiao, an end-blown flute from Guizhou province (south-west China), provides a softer, more refined tone than more robust sounding versions used in ensembles. These qualities, associated with scholar’s instruments, make it suitable for solo playing or for duets with the qin (fretless long zither). Some xiao like this one have poems inscribed on them.

Artist

Zhishan Zheng

Date

ca. 1890

Medium

Xui bamboo (water bamboo)

Culture

Chinese

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of James C. Y. Watt, 2016