Mi-gyaung

late 19th–early 20th century

Not on view

In the 9th century several Burmese musicians were sent to the T'ang dynasty court. Among the instruments they presented to the emperor were the saung-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.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Mi-gyaung
Date: late 19th–early 20th century
Geography: Myanmar (formerly Burma)
Culture: Burmese
Medium: Teak, strings
Dimensions: D. 5 1/2 × L. 45 1/2 in. (14 × 115.6 cm)
Classification: Chordophone-Zither-plucked-tube
Credit Line: Gift of Miss Alice Getty, 1946
Object Number: 46.34.67
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Mi-gyaung, Wood, gold leaf, Burmese — Mi-gyaung
Burmese
late 19th century

Sesando, Bamboo, teak wood, palm (Borassus flabellifera), wire, Javanese (Timorese) — Sesando
Javanese (Timorese)
late 19th century

Ozi, Wood, skin, Burmese — Ozi
Burmese
late 19th century

Tube zither, a bamboo tube with two oblong openings on one side between the nodes; four fibre strings fastened to wood pegs inserted at one end pass through holes at the other., Philippine — Tube zither
Philippine
late 19th century

Hnè, Wood (Sha wood) or Yindaik aka black wood (dalbergia cultrate), Burmese — Hnè
Burmese
late 19th century

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