China

Chinese

Wood, metal, hide, brass tacks
Diameter: 10.5 in; Height: 4 in
Mid 20th century
Membranophones – Struck Membranophones

This bangu is a single-headed drum of the Han Chinese.  The name is derived from ban (‘beat’) and gu (‘drum’) and since the late 18^th century it is a percussion instrument used in the Beijing Opera.  The body is a squat wooden cylinder with the appearance of the underside hollowed out in the shape of a truncated cone.  The thick skin drumhead extends over one side of the drum and is nailed on by three rows of metal tacks around the outside of the body on the frame.  Under the center of the thick skin drumhead is a circular opening and beneath the rim are the wedges of hardwood glued together and wrapped at the bottom with a metal band.  It is played with two short sticks.