Dongbula
1 min readThe Dongbula appeared in the 3rd century and was commonly played by members of the Kazak as seen in mural paintings of the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves .
Today, the Dongbula is found throughout the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture where highly skilled players and singers who masterfully manipulate both their instrument and their voice are praised as Aken, or folk singers. The Dongbula is made by carving an entire block of red willow or pine wood upon which two white pine or spruce faceplates are mounted.
The front faceplate doubles as a fingerplate which, along with the holes of the resonance box, improves the resonance of the two sheep intestine strings. With a length of 90cm and a width of 15cm from its flat head to the end of the long neck, the Dongbula continued to undergo innovations throughout the 1950s to improve volume and range. Many traditional folk songs feature the Dongbula, both on its own and in ensemble, including Galloping Hailiu Horses, Farewell to Aletai, and Proud Girl.
In addition, the Dongbula is an intimate part of daily life, hung on the walls, featured in tapestries, played while returning home on horseback, and showcased during the Aken Festival every summer.
