(headline image: Landtom professional chicken wing wood Chinese pipa)
The pipa, a traditional Chinese lute with a history dating back to the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), remains a symbol of China’s rich musical heritage. This plucked, pear-shaped instrument features a short neck and a shallow wooden body typically crafted from red sandalwood, rosewood, or mahogany. Its four strings, tuned to A, E, D, and A, are now made of steel rather than the original silk, producing a brighter, more resonant tone. The pipa’s design also includes frets (ranging from 12 to 31) and a bridge that conceals a small sound hole.
Historically, the pipa was held horizontally or upside down, but from the 10th century onwards, the instrument gradually shifted to a vertical position. This change accommodated evolving playing techniques that emphasized fingernail-plucking, with players wearing celluloid or hawks bill picks. Today, pipa performers use their left hand to press the strings while plucking with the right.
Throughout hundreds of years, the pipa has been featured in solo performances, ensembles, opera accompaniments, and various folk art forms. Famous traditional pieces include “Ambush on All Sides,” “The Conqueror Unarms,” and “Lady Zhaojun Crossing the Frontier.” Ambush from Ten Sides, Dragon Boat, Dance of the Yi People and Moonlight Spring in River.
The instrument also appears in classical Chinese poetry, with works by Bai Juyi, Wang Han, and Su Shi referencing it.
Liaoyuan: The Modern Pipa Hub
In 2008, China’s Ministry of Culture recognized Liaoyuan, located in Jilin Province, as the “Hometown of Chinese Pipa.” The city is a leading center for pipa education, with many students from Liaoyuan advancing to prestigious arts institutions and international pipa competitions. The city’s training programs also attract students from neighboring countries like South Korea and Japan.
Prominent 20th-Century Pipa Players
Sun Yude and Li Tingsong, both disciples of Wang Yuting, were fundamental in promoting “Guoyue” (national music) during the 20th century, mixing traditional styles with Western influences. Sun performed internationally and served as deputy director of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, while Li contributed to pipa research and held various academic positions. Other influential figures included Liu Tianhua, who enhanced the instrument’s fret design, and Abing, a renowned blind pipa player.
Contemporary Pipa Masters
Lin Shicheng (1922-2006), a leading figure in the Pudong school, was a significant educator at the Central Conservatory of Music. His student Liu Dehai continued this legacy, combining styles from different pipa schools. Wu Man, one of Lin’s most famous students, became the first to earn a master’s degree in pipa. She has gained international acclaim in the world music scene and has become the most visible pipa player in the international scene. Wu Man continues to innovate by collaborating with Chinese, cross-cultural, and jazz ensembles.
Today’s prominent pipa players, such as Wu Man, Min Xiao-Fen and Zhou Yi, Cheng Yu, and Gao Hong, work internationally, integrating the instrument into various genres, including modern chamber music, orchestral settings and world fusion.
Although there are numerous skilled pipa players, these are some of the most notable names in the field:
Lin Shicheng
Min Xiao-Fen
Zhou Yi
Wu Man
Liu Fang
Gao Hong
Jie Ma
Wu Yuxia
Vivian Liu
Lan Weiwei
Cheng Yu
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other talented pipa players out there.
The pipa’s journey from ancient China to global stages reflects its adaptability and enduring cultural significance, serving as both a bridge to the past and a beacon for the future of Chinese music.
Selected Pipa Recordings
Lin Shicheng – China / Art of the Pipa (Ocora, 1993)
Wu Man – Chinese Music for the Pipa (Nimbus Records NI 5368, 1993)
Wu Man – An Anthology of the Classic Pipa Pieces (China Record Co, EL-315, 1989)
Wu Man – China Collage, with Liu Sola (Avant, 1996)
Wu Man – Music for the Motherless Child, with Martin Simpson (Water Lily Acoustics, 1997)
Wu Man – Ghost Opera, with Kronos Quartet (Nonesuch, 1997)
Wu Man – Spring Snowfall, with Liu Sola (Also productions, 2000)
Wu Man – Chinese Traditional and Contemporary Music (Nimbus, 2000)
Wu Man – Aki no Yugure (Autumn Dusk), with Yoshio Kurahashi (Sparkling Beatnik Records, 2001)
Wu Man – Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet (Sony, 2002)
Wu Man – The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan (Smithsonian Folkways, 2002)
Wu Man – Posture of Reality, with Tastu Aoki – (Asian Improve Record 0065, 2003)
Wu Man – Pipa from a Distance (Naxos, 2003)
Wu Man – Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon (Sony, 2005)
Wu Man – Wu Man and Friends (Traditional Crossroads, 2005)
Wu Man – New Impossibilities (Sony Classics, 2007)
Wu Man – The Cusp of Magic, with Terry Riley and Kronos Quartet (Nonesuch, 2008)
Wu Man – Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago (2008)
Wu Man – Off the Map (World Village, 2009)
Wu Man – Immeasurable Light (Traditional Crossroads, 2010)
Wu Man – Music of Central Asia, Vol. 10: Borderlands: Wu Man and Master Musicians from the Silk Route (Smithsonian Folkways, 2012)
Wu Man – Elegant Pipa Classics (Wind Music, 2013)
Wu Man – Our World in Song: An Odyssey of Musical Treasures, with Luis Conte, and Daniel Ho (Wind Music, 2014)
FWu Man – low, with Kojiro Umezaki (In a Circle Records, 2021)
Gao Hong – Hunting Eagles Catching Swans, with Lin Shicheng (1996)
Gao Hong – Flying Dragon (Innova Recordings, 2003)
Gao Hong – Pipa Potluck – Lutes Around the World (Innova, 2015)
Gao Hong – Chinese Buddhist Temple Music (ARC Music, 2018)
Gao Hong – From Our World To Yours, with Issam Rafea (ARC Music, 2020)
Cheng Yu – Chinese Masterpieces of the Pipa & Qin (2007)
Cheng Yu – Classical Chinese Pipa (1994)
China Symphony Orchestra – The Butterfly Lovers (Violin Concerto & Pipa Concerto)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.