Drum on Tiger Base: Unearthed in Xinyang (China) of Combatant Period
In prehistory, the generally-used musical instrument of percussion is drum. The inventor is Emperor Yellow. The Emperor Yellow made 80 drums sounding in the battle with Chi You, the noise of drums pierced thousands of miles, which astonished the enemy. This drum is copied from that prototype unearthed in Chang Tai 长台 of Xinyang(near my hometown
), the seat is two tigers (whose bodies are full of scars and strips and clouds in colors of yellow, red and brown) opposed by their tails, with support in form of phoenix linked to the back of tigers. This is a dark red cloud-stripped grand drum made of tung.
There are many legends relating to drum in ancient China. When the Emperor combated the Dragon in central China, the drum had played an decisive role in the Emperor's victory. It's recorded that, the drum made by the Emperor can "be heared through 500 miles, invincible all around the world", so the Dragon is reduced. Down to the Period of Spring and Autumn, musical playing form had larger development, ensemble could be gathered besides solo, among them, the drum, roped bells, stone tickers playing together could serve a "concert of metal and stone", and the "music of drum and bell" is one of the most representative.