Konghou, also calledKanhou, is an ancient plucked stringed instrument in China. There are mainly three kinds ofKonghou: one is played lying flat, one is played upright and another one is the phoenix-headedKonghou.
As early as the Spring and Autumn (770-476BC) and Warring States (475-221BC) period, there appeared the rudiment ofKonghouplayed lying flat in the Chu Kingdom in southern China.
Konghouwas originally used in
Yayue(court music), and was used in Qingshangyue (a music genre) in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). It was used in
Yanyue(music played in court banquets) in the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and gradually prevailed among the ordinary people and in places inhabited by ethnic minorities.
Konghouplayed upright appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and got popular in the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. It was generally played in rites and ceremonies.
The phoenix-headedKonghouwas introduced from India to the Central Plains of China in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), and was prevalent in the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
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| A mural of Konghou played upright in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) found in the No. 431 Grotto of the Dunhuang Grottos |
Konghou, with its sweet tamber and wide diapason, can be used to play not only cantus but also chord and has many advantages in both solo and tutti performances. It was an indispensable instrument in China's ancient royal courts. From basso-relievo in the Yungang Grottoes of Datong and Dunhuang murals we can see persons playing
Kouhou. This shows that
Kouhouplaying was very popular in China a long time ago.
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