Flute

Laquered bamboo flute with ivory ends. There are three small cracks in the wood. Twelve holes in total: one for mouth, next one for a thin membrane to be places over to create a buzzing sound (remnants of the membrane still remaining on this flute), next six for fingers, next two (on bottom) for decorative yellow tassel, and next two for pitch adjustment. Faint inscription above mouth hole. Played transversely, on either the right or left side of the player. Used in kunqu opera accompaniment, traditional chinese orchestra, smaller silk and bamboo ensembles, and as a solo instrument. The inscription is the poetic couplet "洛陽三月花如錦，多少功夫織得成." It is from the poem "Orioles Flying To and Fro" (鶯梭) by Liu Kezhuang 劉克莊. There are two indecipherable marks following the couplet. The couplet translates to "In Luoyang the third month's flowers are like a brocade; how much time did it take to weave them to completion?"