Paixiao

The paixiao (traditional: 排簫; simplified: 排箫; pinyin: páixiāo; also pái xiāo) is a Chinese wind instrument, a form of pan flute.

The two earliest bamboo paixiao, unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, are from the Warring States period over 2400 years ago.

During the 1600 years from the Spring and Autumn period to the end of the Tang dynasty, the number and length of PaiXiao were different, which were spread through the ages and improved by instrumentalists.

There are still two paixiao from the Tang dynasty in the Shōsōin Repository of Tōdai-ji Buddhist temple in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan.

A musician named Gao Ming (高明) plays a version called the paidi in the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show at the Shaanxi Grand Opera House in Xi'an; he has been a member of this ensemble since 1982.