Xun（Chinese: 埙） is a kind of wind instrument. It’s one of the oldest musical instruments found so far in China with a history of more than 7,000 years, and play a important role in world music circle. The instrument has been found along the Yangtze River and the Yellow River as Neolithic relics, and is believed very popular in ancient China. The ancestors used a kind of oval stone with naturally formed holes on it to hunt the preys. When thrown it at the animals, the stone produced a whistling sound as the air flowed through the holes, which could have provided inspiration for early wind instruments.
Xun, traditional Chinese music instrument
Xun is easily made of clay with an egg shape and there are no more than ten holes on the surface. It can produce sound with a tamber similar to that of human voice, and is suitable for performing some lamenting aria. It is often accompanied by the Chi, a bamboo pipe with eight holes.
Current Situation of Xun
Although Xun is one of the oldest musical instruments in China, the popularity of Xun have faded. Chinese parents prefer to send their children to learn piano, bamboo flute, guitar, etc. With the development of tourism, Xun is not only a musical instrument, but also a kind of craft. As a kind of craft, there are some elaborate designs carving on the surface of Xun. Many foreign tourists like to buy it as a souvenir when they end their journey in China.
Xun,tradition Chinese music instrument