Tianjin in China
Chinese

Bamboo, cloth rope
Late 20th century
Length of Smaller Clapper – 4.7 in; Width .5 in
Length of larger clapper: 7.6 in; Width: .5 in
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Concussion – Clappers

Kuaiban is a Chinese instrument consisting of bamboo slats and rope. While bones have been used as musical instruments in China for thousands of years, the kuaiban in its modern form using bamboo, was pioneered by Li Runjie of Tianjin in the 1940s. Kuaiban literally means ‘fast boards,’ referring to a set of small bamboo clappers, which the performer rattles/shakes to produce an accompanying beat (similar to rapping).  In Beijing dialect this art form is known as kuaibanr. The kuaidban consists of two sets of clappers played at the same time by one performer.  The larger set consist of two larger bamboo slats connected with a cloth rope.  This set is played by holding one of the slats with the left hand, and with the twist of the wrist the second slat strikes the slat that is being held.  In the right hand is the second set with five smaller slats all loosely connected by a cloth rope. A more advanced technic is used in the right hand to get the slats to slap against each other.