Ancient musical instruments trove in China

Chinese archaeologists have discovered an unprecedented collection of approximately 500 clay musical instruments that date to around 496 B.C., according to news reports from China.

The collection, found in a three-chambered tomb in East China's Jiangsu Province, includes many percussion and bell-like instruments, such as a three-foot-long fou, a dingning, a niuduo, a yongzhong and a quing.

Many of these instruments are so rare that little is known about them, aside from a handful of descriptions in old texts. The fou and duo, for example, are firsts for China. . .

Aside from the musical instruments, archaeologists found complete sets of jade and porcelain ceremonial ware. According to a China Daily report, the pottery features red, blue and white glazes.

Posted by David on May 10, 2005 12:07 PM