Hujia (Chinese: 胡笳; Mongolian: 冒顿朝尔, or simply 朝尔) is a traditional Mongolian double reed instrument traditionally used to accompany '' khoomei'' (throat singing). The

Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute () are a series of Chinese songs and poems about the life of Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE) poet Cai Wenji (蔡文姬). The songs were composed by Liu Shang, a poet of the middle Tang dynasty (618–907 ...

was adapted from Hujia song in

Han dynasty The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...

. The ''hujia'' originated from an ancient

nomad Nomads are communities without fixed habitation who regularly move to and from areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the population of nomadic pa ...

ic people. It is now an important part of Chamber art among the

Mongols Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, China ( Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family o ...

together with

Morin huur The ''morin khuur'' (), also known as the horsehead fiddle, is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people, and is considered a symbol of the nation of Mongolia. ...

, Xinagan Chuur, Sihu, etc.

History

The Hujia specifically originated from the peoples of north and west China. The instrument was not originally included in th
eight-sounds classification system
however it gained popularity in China. According to Chinese traditions,

Zhang Qian Zhang Qian (; died c. 114 BC) was a Chinese diplomat, explorer, and politician who served as an imperial envoy to the world outside of China in the late 2nd century BC during the Western Han dynasty. He was one of the first official diploma ...

brought the instrument into China when he was sent from the west. It has been said that wind instruments such as the Hujia, along with drum instruments, are the products of exchanges between China and the North and West. In wartimes the Hujia played an important role. Liu Chou, a soldier during the

Eastern Jin Eastern or Easterns may refer to: Transportation Airlines *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai * Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 192 ...

, drove away oncoming forces from the north by playing the Hujia and conjuring senses of home.

Construction

The Hujia is an

aerophone An aerophone is a musical instrument that produces sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate, without the use of strings or membranes (which are respectively chordophones and membranophones), and without the vibration of the instrume ...

instrument with a

double reed A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. In contrast with a single reed instrument, where the instrument is played by channeling air against one piece of cane which vibrates against the mouthpiece and ...

structure. However, it lacks the holes that are characteristic of a traditional aerophone instrument such as a

Guan Zi Guan may refer to: * Guan (bird), any of a number of bird species of the family Cracidae, of South and Central America * Guan (surname), several similar Chinese surnames ** Guān, Chinese surname * Guan (state), ancient Chinese city-state * Guan ( ...

References

External links

Doing Khoomei-work with Hujia (please see 4:05~5:56)
{{morecat, date=July 2024 Culture of Mongolia

History

Construction

See also

References

External links