Korea
Korean

Wood, silk, bamboo, leather, bone, metal, clay, stone
Late 20th century
Length: 26 inches
Chordophones – Lutes

The haegeum is a Korean traditional string instrument that has two strings and is played with a bow.  Traditionally, the haegeum was made with eight different materials, which lends to its classification as paleum, meaning “eight sounds.”  The eight materials include  metal, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, clay, leather, and wood that stand for the 8 notes of the music.  Although it is unknown as to exactly when the haegeum came into common use in Korean music, its earliest recorded use is from the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 CE).  It is held vertically on the left knee of the performer and played with the bow held horizontally in the right hand.  It produces a nasal tone and piercing sounds and hence is also called kkangkkangi (fiddle).