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The bronze drum: a percussion instrument with a 2,700-year history
Updated: Sep 13, 2023
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With a history of over 2,700 years, the bronze drum was a percussion instrument in ancient China used to command armies or for festive music and dance, later becoming a symbol of power and wealth. The drum surface is mainly decorated with patterns like sun, frogs and heron birds, with unique designs found in different regions that reflect the cultures of various ethnic groups.
China has the largest number of discovered bronze drums in the world, and is the region where they were first cast and used. The Guangxi Museum of Nationalities holds the world's largest collection of ancient bronze drums, with 345 pieces in its collection.
