Yu (percussion instrument)

The Schraptiger (Chinese敔, Pinyin yǔ; Wade- Giles: yu ) is a well-known already in the pre-Qin period traditional Chinese wooden percussion or Schrapinstrument. In the classification of the "eight sounds " ( Bayin ) it is attributed to the wooden instruments.

Its shape resembles a tiger lying on his stomach, a thin bamboo tube is geschrabt against the tooth comb on the tiger back and signal the end of a composition at. The instrument was used in courtly sacred music ( yǎyuè ). The instrument is also known in Korean ritual music. In Korea, it is called 어 ( eo ).

Comment on Shangshu

Already in Chapter Ji Yi (益 稷, Yi and Ji ') of the book of deeds ( Shangshu ) the Schraptiger is mentioned along with the beat box (柷, Zhu ). The han - time commentary by Zheng Xuan to the passage reads: "The Schraptiger ( yǔ ) looks like a lying on his stomach Tiger, his back is carved and jagged like the tip of a hoe or a sword ( CHU WU), it is tickled with an object, so that it produces music. " ( translator's R.St. )