Forgotten Oriental Instruments No More In Use

22Aug,2024

Credit: Pixabay

Before its modern evolution, the early form of the Chinese Guzheng was much more primitive, with fewer strings and a different tuning system

Credit: Wikipedia

Guzheng (Ancient Form)

The older version of the Chinese lute, Pipa, had a different number of frets and was played in a distinct style that has since fallen out of use.

Credit: Wikipedia

Pipa (Ancient Form)

An ancient bowed instrument from India, believed to be the precursor to the violin, it has largely disappeared with the rise of other string instruments.

Credit: Wikipedia

Ravanahatha

An older form of the Japanese Biwa, used by the Heike biwa players, has mostly vanished with the shift to the more modern versions.

Credit: Wikipedia

Biwa (Old-Style)

The ancient version of this Chinese mouth organ was less complex and had fewer pipes compared to the modern Sheng.

Credit: Wikipedia

Sheng (Ancient Form)

An older version of the Vietnamese two-stringed fiddle, which has since evolved in construction and sound.

Credit: Wikipedia

Dan Nhi (Ancient Form)

A Japanese bowed instrument similar to the shamisen, it has been replaced by other instruments, with very few practitioners remaining.

Credit: Wikipedia

Kokyu (Old-Style)

A bowed string instrument from the Indian subcontinent, which has largely fallen out of use, replaced by modern counterparts like the sarangi.

Credit: Wikipedia

Sarinda