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What are the most famous traditional Asian instruments? Erhu The erhu will probably be the traditional instrument that you’ll be most likely to see in a trip to China. You might see it played non-professionally for entertainment in public parks, and it is also played by street musicians. Pronounced èrhú (urrh-hoo) in Mandarin, it is a two-string, violin-like instrument that is played with a bow like a violin bow. It isn’t as loud a violin because the soundbox is small. Erhus generally retain the traditional tuning system, so they may sound odd to Western ears. It allows for a high degree of virtuosity, covers three octaves, and can be made to imitate the sound of Chinese singing and birds and horses. It produces a melancholic sound. Shakuhachi One of the most popular traditional Japanese wind instruments is the shakuhachi. Better known as the Japanese flute, this instrument has been used by Zen Buddhists as a spiritual tool for meditation practices known as ‘suizen’ (吹禅). Held vertically, the shakuh
