Pipa (琵琶 )

The term pipa has been known since the third century b.c. It originally described the playing motion of the right hand: pi, "to play forward" (left), and pa, "to play backward" (right). Since the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the pipa has been used in operatic and narrative-singing ensembles and has a solo repertoire of highly programmatic, virtuosic music.