Unlike the metallophone today, Chinese changed the thickness of the metal plates to obtain different pitches.

[5] [1] The method of playing is to beat with a gakteo (hangul: 각퇴, hanja: 角槌) in both hands.

There were many famous fangxiang performers at that time, including Xianqi Ma and Bing Wu.

[citation needed] The new design of the fangxiang sounds clear and melodious, and it is really good for accompaniments in the Chinese traditional orchestra music.

The fangxiang was used by the American composer Lou Harrison in his Music for Violin with Various Instruments: European, Asian and African (1967, revised 1969).