The big drum is a musical instrument of Han, Tibetan and other nationalities, which is popular all over the country. Throughout the ages, the big drum has always been a popular folk instrument for people of all ethnic groups. There are also differences in the form due to the different popular regions and objects of use. It is mostly used in timekeeping, sacrificial sacrifices, palace guards of honor, military affairs, religion, instrumental music, dance, opera, weddings and funerals, festivals and folk entertainment.

Lizhou drum

Lizhou drum, formerly known as funeral drum and filial drum, also known as Xiangbei drum, is one of the traditional operas of the Han nationality in Changde area of Hunan Province. There is no text to verify its origin. Now there is a saying in Lixian artists that "Duke Zhou governed his rituals, Confucius governed his poems and books, and Zhuangzi governed his funeral drums". Based on the known artist's inheritance relationship, it has a history of at least 400 years.

morning drum

The big drum used to tell the time, also known as the Jiechen Drum, is often placed on the drum tower in the city. The big drum on the Drum Tower in Beijing is specially used for public time reporting. In order to enable Beijing residents to hear the time, the drum is made very large. The diameter of the drum surface is 150 cm. It was once known as the "King of Drums". At night, the bells and drums on the Bell and Drum Tower rang in unison, and the low drum sound spread throughout the city. It was not until the widespread use of clocks in 1915 that it completed its historical mission and became a cultural relic for people to watch.
In the major Buddhist monasteries across the country, bells and drum towers were built behind the mountain gates when the temples were built. The bell tower is in the east and the drum tower is in the west, corresponding to each other. The big drum hangs above the drum tower. The size of the drum often depends on the scale and grade of the monastery. The big drum of Baima Temple in Henan has a diameter of 128 cm and a drum height of 130 cm. In some monasteries, drums are also placed on the wooden frame on the southwest side of the Daxiong Hall. The big drum of the monastery is used for monks doing homework in the morning and evening in the temple, the first and fifteenth day of the lunar calendar and Buddhist ceremonies to beat when doing things, and it is also used to tell the time at night.

Ea of Tibetan

The forehead of the Tibetan people is cylindrical in shape. Popular in Tibet and other Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The drum frame is made of several wooden boards, and the outer hoop is made of several circles of flat iron bars of different widths and fixed with nails. Both ends are covered with yak leather, and the edges of the leather are fixed with iron nails. The specifications vary from place to place. The Ea of the Sakya Monastery in Tibet, also known locally as Cuo Aqinbu, has a diameter of 135 cm on the drum surface and a length of 150.5 cm in the drum body (the height of the drum frame). There are a pair of drum rings on each side of the drum body. The five-round flat iron bars of the hoop drum are painted green, and the big drum is placed horizontally on a specially made drum stand with a height of 132 cm, which is placed in the great scripture hall of the monastery. It is often used in important chanting activities, and is also used in band ensembles when Qiangmu performances are held on religious festivals. It is mostly used in national festivals, wedding and funeral ceremonies and other occasions.

The labor of the Zhuang people

The seed labor of the Zhuang people is in the shape of a round pier. It is popular in the vast rural areas of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. The drum frame is made of fir boards and fastened with bamboo strips. The diameter and height of the drum surface are both 60 cm. The upper side is covered with cowhide or python skin and fixed with drum nails. The drum waist is slightly thicker, with a pair of drum rings on each side. The bottom of the drum is open and tapered inward. The drum is placed on the ground, the double chimes are played, and the sound is loud. Often used in festival gong and drum ensembles or as accompaniment for lion and dragon dances. 

Yao nationality drum

The Yao nationality drum is cylindrical in shape. Popular in Nandan, Tianlin and other places in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The shape varies from place to place. The big drums in the areas of Lihu and Yaozhai in Nandan County are mostly hollowed out with a whole section of camphor wood as the drum frame. The height is 90 cm to 100 cm, and the lower end is open. For the big drums in Pingshan and other places in Tianlin County, the drum frame is made of wooden boards, and both ends are covered with cowhide. The diameter of the drum surface is about 80 cm, and the drum height is 100 cm to 120 cm. The Yao nationality drum is the conductor and lead instrument of the Yao nationality bronze drum band. When playing, it is placed in the center of the band, and the sound is loud and loud. The playing methods include cross-leg strike, bent over strike, counter-attack strike, cross-flip, etc., and alternately strike the drum heart, drum edge or drum frame. The performers dance while striking, the playing methods are ever-changing, and the dancing poses are beautiful and moving. It is mostly used in national festivals, wedding and funeral ceremonies and other occasions.
The Miao ethnic group is known as the Miao skin drum in Han, and is popular in Napo, Nandan and other places in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The drum frame is made of hollowed-out logs, both ends are covered with cowhide, fixed with bamboo nails, and a drum ring is placed at the waist of the drum. Sizes vary from place to place. The diameter of the drumhead in Napo County is 60 cm and the height of the drum is 80 cm; the diameter of the drum surface in Nandan County is 50 cm and the height of the drum is 100 cm. When playing, hold the chuan with both hands and dance while hitting. It is often played in ensemble with musical instruments such as bronze drums, gongs and cymbals, and is used in weddings, funerals and other occasions.

Dong workers

The workers of the Dong people are cylindrical. Popular in Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan and other provinces. The drum frame is made of a whole section of "Meixiangxue" logs hollowed out. The ends are gathered, the middle waist is slightly thick, the diameter of the drum surface is 50 cm, the drum height is 100 cm to 150 cm, the two ends are covered with cowhide, and the edges are fixed with bamboo nails. Drum rings on both sides. The rope is hung horizontally in the Drum Tower of Dong Village. Played with two chisels, the pronunciation is loud and vigorous, and it can be heard several miles away. It is usually not used, and it can be played only on grand festivals, when conveying official documents from superiors, and when gathering people to discuss matters.

The forehead of the Yi nationality

The forehead of the Yi nationality is plaid, cylindrical. Popular in Lunan Yi Autonomous County, Maitreya, Luxi and other places in Yunnan Province. The drum frame is made of a whole section of pine or walnut wood hollowed out, and the two ends are covered with sheepskin. The diameter of the drum surface is 60 cm and the height of the drum is 95 cm. When playing, it is placed on a stand and played with a double horn, and one end of the horn is covered with flannel. You can also play drums with one person in front and one person in the back while walking. Every festival, celebration or market occasion, it is used to accompany the folk song and dance "Da San Xian Dance" (also known as "Dance to the Moon").

aquarium drum

Aquarium drum, cylindrical. Popular in all parts of Guizhou Province. The drum frame is made by hollowing out a whole section of toon wood, camphor wood or mulberry wood, the middle is slightly thick, and the two ends are covered with cowhide. The drum surface has a diameter of 45 cm and a drum height of 100 cm. It is placed on a drum stand and struck with a short wooden chime. It is used for traditional national festivals such as June 6th, Guoduan (Shui New Year, August and September), Guonian (first month) and other traditional festivals. It is often played with musical instruments such as bronze drums and reeds.

Tujia drum

Tujia drums, also known as hall drums, are cylindrical in shape and are popular in Hubei Province, Hubei Province, Western Hubei Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, and Hunan Province, Hunan Province, and Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. The drum frame is made of fir boards, covered with cowhide leather at both ends, and the edge of the drum skin is fixed with two rows of iron nails or bamboo nails. The diameter of the drum head is 44 cm and the drum height is 46.5 cm. The drum is placed on the ground, and the double chimes are struck. The drum can also be tied with a long pole, two people in the front and the rear lift the drum, and one person in the middle plays the drum. Festive or festival is also used for folk lion dance, dragon dance accompaniment.

Lizhou drum

The Lizhou drum, formerly known as the mourning drum and the filial drum, was once known as the Xiangbei drum. It was popular in the northern Hunan and the border areas of Hunan and Hubei. The legend originates from Zhuangzi's drum pot song. Artists in Lixian also circulated the saying that "the Duke of Zhou ruled his principles, Confucius ruled his poetry and books, and Zhuangzi ruled his mourning drums". Judging from the existing materials, it has a history of at least 400 years.