Chinese Bowed String Instruments

Chinese bowed string instruments are classed under the generic term huqin 胡琴("barbarian stringed instrument"), reflecting the historical fact that this type of instrument was originally used by the nomads of Mongolia and Manchuria. The basic huqin is believed to have first appeared in China in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD), supposedly as a modification of the xiantao (sanxian) with a strip of bamboo used as a bow in place of the original plectrum. However, it only became widely popular in the Song Dynasty (960 -1279 AD), gradually developing into many variants. There are now more than 36 recorded types of huqin, but only a few are regularly used in the Chinese orchestra. The gehu, matouqin, cello and double bass are also often included in this section, although they can actually be played by both bowing (arco) and plucking (pizzicato).