Percussion Instruments

Chinese percussion is multifaceted in character. Percussion instruments play a very important role in temple ceremonies and folk customs. They can be divided into four groups, according to the materials on which they are based:

1) Metal: ‘鈸 ba’ (a flat plate of metal struck with a mallet) and ‘鑼 luo’ (a gong).

2) Hide: ‘大鼓 da-gu’ (large drum) and ‘堂鼓 tang-gu’.

3) Wood: ‘梆子 bang-zi’(wood clappers) and ‘木魚 mu-yu’ (wood block)

4) Western percussion instruments, such as the snare, tenor and bass drums and timpani.