Chinese Relics | Eagle Bone Flute
The tale of 3000-year-old Qiang flute
Zheng Qian, Zhou Yuzhou
Name: Eagle Bone Flute
Historical Period: c. 3,000 years ago (The Kayue Culture)
Length (Residual Part): 15.4 cm, Diameter: c. 1.1 cm
Excavation Site: Zhujiazhai, West Suburb of Xining, Qinghai province
Housed in: Qinghai Provincial Museum
This eagle bone flute with eight holes is considered the oldest Qiang flute. The ancient Qiang people of China made flutes from eagle bones in the hope of communicating with the world through the spirituality of the eagle.
The Eagle Bone Flute, a relic of the ancient Qiang (羌) people's musical heritage, represents more than just an instrument; It is a testament to the coexistence of agriculture, herding, and hunting within the Kayue Culture. This culture, dating back over 3,000 years, is a significant part of China's Bronze Age civilization, originating from Kayue village in Qinghai's Huangzhong district.
Qiang flute signified an ancient cultural symbol. The poetic lines, "Why should the Qiang flute complain no willows grow? / Beyond the Gate of Jade no vernal wind will blow," remind us of the sound of the ancient flute lingering on in Chinese history.
Researchers reveal that eagle worship was a custom of ancient Qiang people. In the primitive religions, eagle was believed to have the spirituality to connect with the divine. Ancient Qiang people made flutes from eagle bones, hoping to communicate with the world by virtue of eagle's spirituality. Today, eagle bone flute remains popular among ethnic groups in Xinjiang, Gansu, Yunnan and Xizang, whose shape and playing are basically the same as that in the Kayue Culture. This possibly involves the migration of ancient Qiang people and presents us the continuity of ancient Qiang culture.
Kayue site was regarded by archaeologists as one of the cultural remains of ancient Qiang people. As a cultural form of the Bronze Age in northwestern China, the Kayue Culture is an extension of the Qijia Culture and represents the most widespread and numerous cultural types in Qinghai. Presently, more than 1,700 sites have been excavated. The numbers of animal bone and tool for stockbreeding shoot up, yet the number or quality of pottery ware decreases significantly. Simultaneously, a substantial number of woodwork and small bronze wares were unearthed. This suggests that ancient Qiang people's economy was predominantly pastoral.
With great inclusiveness and high adaptability, ancient Qiang people continuously injected new momentum into the formation and development of the Chinese nation and accelerated the progress of Chinese civilization.
The views don't necessarily reflect those of DeepChina.
Source: Becoming the Chinese Nation: The historical memories of multi-ethnic Chinese Nation in 100 cultural relics
Editor/ Liu Xian
Translator/ Chi Jianfeng
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