The qinhanzi, or qin pipa—a four-stringed lute having a skin-covered round body, a straight neck, and 12 frets—was developed from a rattle drum by the labourers on the Great Wall during the time of Shihuangdi (the first emperor, ruled 238–210 bc).

Sometimes called the "Chinese lute ", the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12 to 31. Another Chinese four-string plucked lute is the liuqin, which looks like a smaller version of the pipa.

By the Han Dynasty (206 BC -- 220 AD), the instrument developed into its form of four strings and twelve frets, plucked with fingernails and known as pipa or qin-pipa (see Fig.1. In the Western Jin Dynasty (256-316), the qin-pipa was named after the famous scholar, one of " Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove ", Ruan Xian , who was a great master ...

Nov 23, 2023 · 琵琶 (Pípa) is a traditional East Asian plucked string instrument with a history spanning over 2000 years in China. The earliest instruments referred to as “琵琶” emerged around the Qin Dynasty.

Sep 28, 2024 · Pipa first appeared in China during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), and peaked in popularity during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The Pipa is an incredibly versatile instrument. It can be used as a solo instrument or performed with a small ensemble or large orchestra.

Sep 23, 2019 · This might be the evidence that Pipa from Central Asia was introduced to China around late Eastern Han Dynasty. However, I also discovered that there was an instrument called Qin Pipa (秦琵琶， or 秦汉子) , evolved from 鼗 （tao）, a kind of raddled drum that existed since the Qin Dynasty (221 - 203 B.C.).

In the Western Jin Dynasty (256-316), the qin-pipa was named after the famous scholar, one of "the seven sages of the Bamboo Forest", Ruan Xian, who was a great master on this instrument.

Learn about the ancient Chinese pipa – a beautiful instrument with a rich history. Wu Man plays the pipa. Wu Man -- one of the most celebrated Pipa players of the century. Wu Man in concert. The origins of the pipa date back to the Qin and Han Dynasties of China (around 200 BC) – giving the instrument a history of over 2,000 years.

Mar 6, 2025 · Pipa is known as the "king of plucked instruments." Adil Abliz, a researcher at the Xinjiang Museum, explains that ancient pipas were categorized into straight-necked pipas and crooked-neck pipas. The straight-necked pipa, also called the "Qin pipa," originated during China's Qin Dynasty.

During the golden age of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the pipa gained favour over the elegant qin and often served as a lead instrument in the music of the sophisticated Tang court. The pipa has undergone the most dramatic changes of all Chinese instruments today.