Cymbals originated in West Asia and were popular in the Northern Wei Dynasty. After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it became an important accompaniment instrument for opera. Cymbal: In ancient times, it was called "copper cymbal" and "copper plate", and it was called "cymbal" in the folk. is a common percussion instrument. 

Long history and strong performance. It is not only used in national music, local drama, wind and percussion music and gong and drum music, but also widely used in folk songs and dances, entertainment and publicity activities of all ethnic groups. Cymbals originated in West Asia, first in Egypt, Syria, and later in ancient countries such as Persia and Rome; in the East, they were first seen in India, and then in Central Asia. 

According to the "Book of Northern Emperor. Shenwu Ji" records: cymbals are about AD Around 350, it was introduced into the Central Plains of my country with "Tianzhu Music".

In the early 6th century, copper cymbals were very popular among the folks of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and were used in Buddhist music for a long time. Cymbals were used in the nine music of the Sui Dynasty and were used in the five music of Tianzhu, Xiliang, Qiuci, Anguo and Kanguo. In the Tang Dynasty, seven of the ten music used cymbals, especially in the Yan music, there were also the distinction between the positive cymbals and the harmonious cymbals. In the Sui and Tang Dynasties frescoes in the Thousand Buddha Caves in Dunhuang and the music and dance stone carvings in the tomb of Wang Jian, the former Shu emperor of the Five Dynasties in Chengdu, there are already painted portraits of people striking cymbals.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, cymbals were the accompaniment instruments in local dramas such as Kunqu Opera.