木鱼【英】

Wooden Fish

定义

多用桑木或椿木制作，体高约5至15厘米，中空。演奏时用小木槌敲击发声。属于体鸣乐器族。发音清脆、响亮，节奏感强。木鱼为历史较为久远的中国传统打击乐器，源于佛教，最早用于佛教“梵呗”（一种佛教歌曲）的伴奏。后来传入民间，为中国民族乐队中必备的打击乐器，通常成套使用（现行的成套木鱼为大小不等、音高不同的一组木鱼）。莫高窟壁画中伎乐部多次出现。

An idiophone instrument, usually made of mulberry wood or Chinese toon (Toona sinensis), a type of mahogany. It may range from 5-15 cm high and is hollow in the middle. Beaten with a small mallet, it gives a sharp, resonant sound. It is a traditional Chinese percussion instrument with a relatively long history. Its use started in India and it was first used in China to keep rhythm for fan bai (a type of Buddhist chanting); it is still used in Buddhist temples today as part of the religious service. Later it was introduced to folk communities and became an indispensable percussion instrument in Chinese traditional orchestras, normally used in sets (today, a complete set includes wooden fish in varying sizes and pitch). Wooden fish may be found in many paintings in the Mogao Caves depicting musical performances.