The fangxiang (also fang xiang, fang hsiang; 方响 or 方響 in Chinese, pinyin: fang1 xiang3) is an ancient Chinese metallophone. The instrument consists of 16 tuned iron slabs laid in a frame in two rows. The slabs are struck with a hammer and played melodically. Pinyin (Chinese: 拼音, pÄ«nyÄ«n) literally means join (together) sounds (a less literal translation being phoneticize, spell or transcription) in Chinese and usually refers to HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n (汉语拼音, literal meaning: Han language pinyin), which is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard... Generally speaking, a metallophone is any musical instrument consisting of tuned metal bars which are struck to make sound, usually with a mallet. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ...

The fangxiang was used in the Chinese court. A similar instrument is still used in the court music of Korea. The first evidence of Korean music is ancient, and it has been well-documented by surviving written materials since the 15th century. ...

The fangxiang was used by the American composer Lou Harrison in his Music for Violin with Various Instruments: European, Asian and African (1967, revised 1969). Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 - February 2, 2003) was an American composer. ...

External links

• Fangxiang page (in Chinese)