zheng (pinyin: Zhēng) is a percussion instrument. It is an ancient military percussion instrument, also known as "Ding Ning". It is shaped like a bell and has a long handle. When used, the mouth is upward and struck with a mallet. It was popular in the southern countries during the Spring and Autumn Period. It can be seen from the cultural relics and archaeology that Zheng was still very popular in the marching honor guards of the Han, Wei and Jin dynasties. Ancient Chinese percussion instruments. Copper. The shape of the zheng is similar to the cymbal, which is narrower and longer than the cymbal, but taller and heavier than the cymbal. The archaeological circle is commonly known as the big cymbal. The zheng is used by the military to issue signals and restrain the pace. "Book of Songs, Xiaoya, Caiqi" says: "Zheng is used to calm it, and drums are used to move it." It is said that the Zheng is a musical instrument used to order the army to stop, which is the opposite of the drum. Later, weaving horns also appeared, which could play music or send out relatively clear signals. When the meaning was similar to the modern bugle, it could also be used for sacrifices and feasts.
The earliest record of zheng appeared in "Poetry Xiaoya Cai qi", a bronze zheng from the Shang Dynasty unearthed in the Yin Ruins of Anyang, its shape is "short and broad, wide in the abdomen and pointed at both ends, curved in the mouth, oblique at both ends. Up, handle down, middle pass". At the same time, many zhengmen are placed in a set of large, medium and small sets of three. By the Zhou Dynasty, the shape had changed, and most of them were "flat mouth with long handle and lower handle on top".
There are two types of cymbals in ancient times, one refers to the "cymbals" in the Yin and Zhou dynasties (different from the cymbals called cymbals now), "Shuowen": "zheng, cymbals, like bells, in the handle, up and down." Actually The zheng and cymbal at that time were different in shape. Zheng is used in military affairs, see Li You of the Later Han Dynasty, "Zheng Ming": "Shen strict orders, oath divisions and brigade; in order to maintain discipline, all people listen"; the second refers to the ancient gong-shaped musical instruments passed down from the southern nationalities, Tang Duyou "Tang Duyou" Tongdian said: "Zheng... is like a big copper stack, hanging and hitting it, using the drum, called Zheng." Song Chenyang's "Book of Music" also records that Zheng is a musical instrument from the south. Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and other countries have woven zheng. Zeng is also used in honor guard bands. "Ming Hui Dian Da Jia Lu Book": "Golden zheng is on all sides, copper and bamboo, and the red stalk is used to tie the zheng to the ridge. The diameter of the zheng is nine inches and five minutes." This kind of zheng used to promote music is hung on the double dragon frame It is shaped like a gong and is pronounced by hitting it with a mallet.