Jadeite Xiao (a vertical flute)
Rectangular jadeite pendant engraved with bat and calabashes in openwork
A Celadon Jade Sampan
Jadeite mouthpieces of tobacco pipe |
Qing Dynasty Modeled after its bamboo counterpart, the jadeite xiao is carved with seven bamboo joints in intaglio. It is hollow inside and has a semicircular blowing hole and six sound holes, with five of the sound holes on top and one at the bottom. There's a string hole at one end of the instrument for attaching the silk tassels. Xiao is an ancient Chinese musical instrument. It originally had four holes before an extra hole was added in the Han Dynasty, bringing the number of holes to five. And then, in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, yet another hole was added, making xiao a six-holed instrument. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, horizontally blown flutes were called "di" (flute) and vertically blown ones "xiao". Xiao is mostly made of bamboo, with only a handful made of jadeite. |
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