A Musical Ambassador
When played, the sound of the pipa instantly evokes images of Asia. Since its introduction into China around the second century from Central Asia, the pipa has become an integral part of the Chinese musical repertoire as both a solo instrument and as part of wider ensembles.
In the second century the term pipa referred to a number of different plucked or strummed instruments, from the quintessentially Chinese zither, or qin, to the ovoid lute, or pipa, as we see it here. While this shared name has made it difficult to know exactly when the pipa emerged in its current form, the trans-Asian identity of the instrument has been understood throughout its history. Material records and artistic representations in this early period from areas such as Gandhara and Sasanian Persia connect the ovoid, short-necked lute that found popularity in the Chinese court as the pipa, to Central Asia. With its links to other Asian communities, the pipa’s foreign origins were regularly asserted in the legends surrounding its conception.
The pipa remained integral to Chinese music and culture over a thousand years after its first introduction. Dating from the Ming dynasty, the incredible artistic investment in this pipa testifies to the longevity of the instrument. While the pipa had fallen from its earlier levels of popularity by the time this example was made in the late 16th century, it continued to be known as a folk instrument while developing new associations with Buddhism and reasserting its relations with the western regions of China.
This pipa in particular points to a narrative of cultural transfer and assimilation between Asian communities. Its Central Asian origin places it within an expanded Iranian cultural context, with different Central and Southern Asian communities contributing to the development of the instrument and its musical style in China. More recently, the resulting similarities with instruments such as the Arabic ‘ud and the European lute has made the pipa ideal for incorporation into Western styles of music, making it a popular choice for evoking images of China in film scores. Its role as an ambassador for modern-day Chinese music reflects its complex history as something both foreign and yet recognizably Chinese.