History of Chinese Drum
The drum occupies a prominent place in Chinese culture. Though the exact origin of the Chinese drum is still subject to debate, ancient literatures show that it is about as old as Chinese history itself. The earliest documentation of its application in ancient China occurs in Oracle Inscriptions (Jiaguwen “Jiaguwen is an ancient Chinese word, it usually write on animal’s shell”) of the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century BC), that is, inscriptions carved on tortoise shells and animal bones. As an old and wonderful form of art, the drum finds application in almost every aspect of Chinese social life, including sacrificial and worshiping ceremonies, farming, and warfare, and throughout the centuries it has been imbued with profound cultural implications. The history of the popularization of the Chinese drum is also the history of its continuous borrowing and assimilation of other artistic forms and expressions. During the
Cited: Lency. “Chinese Drum’ First Stop: Shells and animal bones.” Chinaculture.org Offers 01 October 2004 http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2006-02/06/content_79017.htm Han, Mei. "Guzheng." In The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (London, 2001). Montreal, Quebec, Canada. “Pipa’ First Stop: With a wooden plectrum.” ©2000-2009 Philmultic Management & Productions Inc. http://www.philmultic.com/pipa/ Zha, Fuxi (1958). Cunjian Guqin Qupu Jilan 【存見古琴曲譜輯覽】. Beijing: The People 's Music Press. ISBN 7-103-02379-4.