The term pipa has been known since the 3rd century B.C. It originally described the playing motion of the right hand: p'i, "to play forward" (left), and p'a, "to play backward" (right). In addition to its use in the opera and in story telling ensembles, the pipa has a solo repertoire of highly programmatic, virtuosic music.
Credit: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
19th century
Wood, ivory, bone, gut
94.2 x 22.5 x 4.7 cm
89.4.52
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2023
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection