Chinese national musical instrument museum in Shenyang

The Chinese national musical instrument museum is situated in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province.

Established by Shenyang Conservatory of Music, it is the only such museum in  Northeast China.

Around 200 Chinese musical instruments are displayed at the museum under the categories of antique musical instruments, modern musical instruments, Chinese royal court musical instruments and ethnic minority musical instruments.

They include chuyu (antique percussion instruments), bianzhong (chime-bells) and yaoling (a kind of percussion instrument of the Chinese Man ethnic group).

Boasting a long history, each musical instrument on exhibition has an interesting story to tell. According to the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor which was compiled over 2,200 years ago, bolanggu or taogu (rattle drums) were initially invented as a weapon to defeat Chi You, a tyrant in ancient China. Then Yu, the founding emperor of the Xia Dynasty (c.21st century-16th century BC) redesigned it as a children’s toy.

Konghou, an ancient Chinese harp with a history dating back thousands of years is the most precious musical instrument in the museum. By the end of the 14th century, the technique for making the konghou had been lost until Zhao Guangyun, professor of Shenyang Conservatory of Music, managed to make one and successfully applied for a patent.

Visitors tap bianzhong at the Chinese national musical instrument museum in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province. [Photo/syd.com]

A visitor views traditional Chinese musical instruments at the museum. [Photo/syd.com]

A visitor touches a very large suona, a double-reed woodwind instrument at the museum. [Photo/syd.com]