Traditional Chinese musical instruments can be divided into four categories: stringed instruments, percussion instruments, plucked instruments, and wind instruments. There are also many different types of instruments silk, bamboo, wood, stone, metal, clay instruments.
The Pipa
Is a traditional stringed chinese instrument. It was Originally named after the loquat fruit, the earliest pipa known was found to have been made in the Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC). Unlike the violin or cello the pipa is a four stringed plucked instrument. Many well known writers and poets created poems and mentioned it in their works.
The Erhu,
Also called 'Huqin', is a two stringed- bow, traditional chinese instrument. It was introduced from the western region during the Tang Dynasty. During the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), it was refined and improved and new variations appeared. It was also an important instrument for playing the melody of Beijing Opera. It is played similarly to a Cello, with the bow on the strings moving from left to right.
The flute is one of china’s most respected musical instrument. The earliest flute was made from bone over 7,000 years ago. In the times since then, most flutes were made of bamboo. Most flutes come in different shapes and sizes. They also come in different materials most are made of bamboo, but can come in wood, jade, bone, and iron.The flute was played by covering different holes while blowing through the side hole.