Xinjiang Province of Western China
Uyghurs

Mulberry and apricot wood, metal strings, snakeskin
ca. Mid-20th century
Length: 35.5 in
Chordophones – Lutes

The khomul ghijeck is a long-necked plucked lute of the Uyghur people in the  Xinjiang Province of Western China.  This khomul ghijeck is made mostly of mulberry and apricot wood and consists of a small inlaid decorated  cylinder sound box with a reptile skin sound table, a slender inlaid decorated neck, nine lateral pegs with two bowed strings and numerous sympathetic strings.  The khomul ghijeck is played in an upright position with the resonator held on the left thigh with the left hand fingers stopping the strings lightly,  and the right hand bowing with inward pressure for the low string and outward pressure for the high string.