The bone flute dates back the testable history of Chinese music to more than 8,000 years ago. The flute that appeared at the Jiahu site is the best proof of our country’s long history. Because this flute was discovered at the Jiahu site, it was called the Jiahu bone flute. The appearance of this bone flute not only proves that our country can be saved. History has also extended the history of our country for nearly 4,000 years. Because according to precise instrument testing, it was found that this bone flute was dating from 8,700 years ago.

The Jiahu bone flute was unearthed in 1984. By 2001, it had been excavated seven times in total, and more than 30 bone flutes were unearthed. About one-third of them are complete, and the rest include remnants and semi-finished products. The unearthed bone flutes are not exactly the same. They vary in length and have different numbers of holes.

The Jiahu bone flute is of great value

In 1987, archaeologists in Henan Province discovered more than ten bone flutes in tombs at the early Neolithic site in Jiahu, Wuyang County. (China Cultural Relics News, December 11, 1987) Bone flutes are made by cutting off the two end joints of raptor wing bones or leg bones. They are generally about 20 centimeters long and 1.2-1.5 in diameter. One end is slightly thicker and the other end is thinner. Most of them have seven sound holes drilled on the front. There are no flute membrane holes, and there is no hole for the flute at the upper end. The shape is fixed and the production is standardized. There are also small holes drilled next to some sound holes.

One of the seven-hole bone flutes is well preserved. When playing, it is held vertically, and the upper mouth of the bone flute and the mouth are formed at an appropriate inclination to make it sound. After trial playing, it was found that this bone flute already has a scale structure, and its temperament is the traditional Chinese three-part law of gain and loss.