Mi-gyaung

Burmese

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 681

In the ninth century, several Burmese musicians were sent to the Tang-dynasty court in China. Among the instruments they presented to the emperor were the saùng-gauk (harp), klene (mouth organ), and mi-gyaung, all chamber instruments. Mi-gyaung means " crocodile-zither" in Burmese. Similar box zithers exist throughout Southeast Asia and, although the shape is not maintained, the reptilian name persists as chakhe in Thailand or kacapi in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Mi-gyaung, Wood, gold leaf, Burmese

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