Chunyu Photo: Weibo

Researchers in East China's Zhejiang Province have recently discovered a set of ceramic musical instruments at a ruins site that belonged to the Yue Kingdom, dating back to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770BC-256BC), in the Yuecheng district of Shaoxing.

The collection, comprising three cylinder-like percussion instruments and six others resembling ancient chime bells, is the first of its kind to be unearthed at an archaeological site associated with the Yue culture. The cylinder-like instruments, named chunyu in Chinese, were often paired with drums and used to command the advance and retreat of the troops on the battlefield, while those similar to chime bells were called goudiao at that time.

Typically, a set like this would be crafted from bronze. However, the Yue Kingdom valued frugality and practicality so they prioritized the use of precious bronze for the production of weapons and farm tools rather than musical instruments, said Luo Rupeng, a researcher from the Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute of Zhejiang Province.

The instruments were found at the Dahutou Site, a well-preserved settlement that boasts an abundance of ruins, including building foundations, ash pits, ditches and wells.

In addition to the musical instruments, an extensive array of artifacts were discovered at the site, including numerous pottery pieces, primarily consisting of cooking utensils and food containers, as well as stoneware and bronze ware.

Several wooden oars have also been found, as the Yue people often traveled by boat at that time. Furthermore, abundant remnants of rice and other plant materials were discovered at the site.