Female musician with lute
Ensembles featuring female musicians often served as a musical bridge between elite and popular culture. As expert musicians, they were often musical innovators. Here, a small ensemble is shown (23.180.4–.7), clapping and playing the pipa, tongbo (small copper cymbals), and konghou (harp). The pipa is played in its original position, like an Arabic lute; its silk strings are plucked with a triangular plectrum. The construction and playing style resemble those of the biwa, a Japanese lute derived from the pipa. Today, the biwa maintains the use of a triangular plectrum, the West Asian plectrum guard, and the C-shaped sound holes seen on the instrument played by the musician here as well as on the jade belt featured in this case. The Chinese playing style changed during the chaotic Later Tang period (921–36), when the plectrum was discarded. The angular konghou harp, introduced at the end of the Han dynasty, was in decline at this time and had gone completely out of use by the end of the Tang.
The highest-rated musicians at the Tang court performed seated, while the lower ranks played standing and were also treated less well in other respects.
The highest-rated musicians at the Tang court performed seated, while the lower ranks played standing and were also treated less well in other respects.
Artwork Details
- 唐 彩繪陶持琵琶樂伎女俑
- Title: Female musician with lute
- Period: Tang dynasty (618–907)
- Date: late 7th century
- Culture: China
- Medium: Earthenware with pigment
- Dimensions: H. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm); W. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); D. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)
- Classification: Tomb Pottery
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1923
- Object Number: 23.180.4
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
China
late 7th century
China
late 7th century
China
late 7th century
China
ca. 550–560
China
early 7th century
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.